Kids Will Learn From Spanking – But Will The Adults?
Dec 6th, 2011 by 'holic
It was a dead rubber, yes. For one side that may have been true, but going halfheartedly into a challenge with committed opponents can be a recipe for pain as well. The surrender of the three points will count for nothing in a day or two. The assessment of injuries to Fabianski and Santos may yield the true cost of tonight.
We are potentially without a recognised left-back with first-team experience with a trip to Manchester City just twelve days away. We are potentially an injury to Szczesny away from having only Mannone to keep goal. I’ll not expand on that tonight.
There may be benefits to be gleaned from tonight as well. The likes of Frimpong and Coquelin will be much better prepared for any future high-pressure fixture. They will know they have to be a yard quicker than they started tonight, not in fleet of foot but in speed of thought and execution. If they have absorbed that tonight then the defeat will not have been in vain.
I do wonder though if some of the usual suspects who were there to lend experience will actually have appreciated that they pretty much left the lads to their own devices tonight. That anonymous observation is as harsh as we need to be, I think. For all that we were harried and hustled out of things so comprehensively for an hour, we deserve some credit for coming back to 2-1. It was inevitable, I thought, that a fourth goal would come, and I daresay a few joined me in thinking we might just get out of jail free.
In the end, one final defensive cock-up, on a night of defensive cock-ups, meant the home team grabbed that last goal, and momentarily dreamed of joining us in the last sixteen. Then news filtered through of an astonishing comeback by Marseille in Dortmund, and both sides left the pitch with a degree of emptiness about what had just happened.
However there is a danger of over-reacting to a poor performance from players who rarely get to play with each other. The bulk of that side has experienced two reverses in a week, but the promise of the young midfielders, and the tantalising glimpses of the undoubted talent that is Oxlade Chamberlain offer some prospect of a bright future.
Looking at that tonight you would not feel comfortable with all of that side playing together again, and hopefully the boss will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes against Leeds. I think there are three or four who should not get a look-in now as we approach the business end of the campaign. that still leaves what I feel is a trustworthy squad of sixteen or seventeen players with Jack Wilshere to return to the fold around the end of January.
Is that enough? Maybe, maybe not. There is a possibility for more pruning of deadwood in January. Let’s consider trading the disinterested and the downright poor for a couple of strategic additions, and we will be all the better for it.
Cheers ‘holics.
529 Responses to “Kids Will Learn From Spanking – But Will The Adults?”
Fabianski felt a deep cut on the knee and Santos suffered a bad ankle injury. He looks like he will be out for a while.
We have Gibbs coming back in two to three weeks. Hopefully Santos will not be too long but, for Saturday against Everton, he looks to be short. We have as well Vermaelen who can play in his position.
AW on Santos.
Just great…
Still pissed off that Santos played
I know! Why oh why, were Santos and Verm risked. Hopefully not too bad for Andre..
Vermaelen I could sort of understand, he’s missed a lot of games and we have cover. But Santos did not need to be risked, and Miquel showed when he came on, that risk was un-necessary.
Really puzzled by that decision.
Can anyone explain why Santos (our only fit LB) was played in a match of absolutely no consequence?
No matter how you look at it, we’re gonna have a back four of 4 CBs.
Either Kos, PM, TV, Miquel or Djourou, PM, Kos, TV.
I would have said it’s pure bad luck, but it’s not, there was no need whatsoever to play Santos or TV and fuck UEFA if they think we’re “disrespecting” the competition.
Still pissed off that Santos played
I refer the honourable member to my preview post. It was fucking insanity to play him tonight.
Strange decision to play Santos. We really have improved this year but Rosicky AA and Chamack need to go and 1 or 2 super quality to replace please.
It was just shocking but for me just emphasised what we already knew. The back up ain’t good enough. Some have potential and some just need to pack their bags. Until we address that we will never make that final step up.
Funny. When I switched the tv on and saw Santos in the line up i KNEW this would happen. No hunch. No bad feeling. I looked at his face and knew: byebye Andy Two Saints…
Just glad the game is over.
‘Holic knows
Looks like we will have 4 CBs playing against Everton Verm-Kos-Mert-Djourou.. don’t know if Arsene will think of starting Miquel at LB and moving Verm to the center and Kos at RB. Anyways, the point is moot. Santos should not have been risked in my opinion, hindsight being 20-20 as it is…
Steve – While I agree that some aren’t good enough, I tend to agree with Holic that we shouldn’t draw too much out of this game as this team will never play together again.
Even when we will rotate it won’t be ten changes. AW learned from that in 09-10.
It was madness to play santos and TV. I don’t understand either being selected.
I also reiterate what I said in the previous drinks. Park??? Why???
The Santos injury is disappointing and could have been avoided, otherwise I’m not too fussed with the result. Was a dead rubber and I’d rather play badly here than on Saturday.
Have to be off to bed sharpish, but just have to say this:
Why the fuck was Santos even in the squad tonight??? I can understand Vermaelen playing, but not Santos. Fuck fuck fuck fuckety fuck fuck fuck.
Don’t understand the criticism against Rosicky. He gives it his all when he plays and is a valuable squad member along with Bennygoon. They will play their part. It hurts me that Andrei seems to be at the point of no return. I really have a soft corner for both him and Chamakh, but it increasingly looks like their time is up. However, the abuse being thrown at them from some corners in despicable (I mean some other Arsenal forums). They are part of the team after all..
@ 12
The game tonight was meaningless.
Hindsight doesn’t come into it.
Arsene, much as I admire him, really winds me up sometimes.
Nice one ‘holic.
Behalf from 15mins or so around the time we scored I thought we were piss poor, I expected more.
I’ll pop back in later when I’ m behind a proper keyboard, until then a round of beers on me.
Snir. We have learned nothing new tonight. Some of the younger players have gained experience but have shown they have a way to go. Some more senior should be on their way sooner rather than later and out second string keepers are a disaster. Nothing there that will be a shock to anyone.
There’s no hindsight needed at all. Anyone could tell you Santos had no business playing tonight. There was a case for TV5 to be given a game (barely), but playing Santos is the stupidest thing Wenger has done this season. I have a feeling it may really come back to haunt us too.
What was the point of winning the group if we’re going to risk key players in games that are meaningless??? I can’t understate how angry I am with the decision. Dereliction of duty on behalf of the manager. Madness.
Right class. Vermalen? stand up. Chamberlain? stand up. frimpong? stand up. Miquel? stand up. Now those of you left seated can just f**k off.
I expected a loss and don’t care about the result cause we finished top of the group and i have said for while, that if you see Chamack starting then Wenger doesn’t care about the result. But what i wasn’t expecting was some of the worst defensive play i have ever seen. Djourou, by far, is the dumbest man to ever lace up a pair of football boots. Arshavin really doesn’t care anymore and chamack is on track to go down as the worst striker to play for arsenal and catagory includes Kaba Diawara.
I dont buy this notion of players need games to play well. Utter rubbish. The whole point of having reserve players is that you can call on then to do a job when your main player is injured.
The fact is wenger clearly has some duds in the squad and needs to remove them soon. Chamack, Djuorou and Squillaci are simply just not good enough players. Arshavin and Rosicky are past it. At times they still show quality but not enough. Fabianski and Mannone might be promissing but thats all they will ever be. They are pact full of errors. Mannone’s error for me is the worst a keeper could make. Really, how can you not know where you are and simply catch the ball.
Result doesn’t matter and there are more important games but injuries now mean we might need to rely on some of the players and their performance was simply shocking.
Glad Olympiakos went out though. I can’t stand them.
Steve – what I mean is that this performance was poor but doesn’t mean that FrimCoq for instance aren’t good enough.
Like you said, nothing to be learned from today except that AA, Squillaci and Chamakh have to go but we didn’t need today to realize that.
I still can’t shake off that stupid decision to play Santos.
Woah, careful we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater there kids…
I realise I probably started it with my Santos rant, but a little perspective should be retained here.
Ripping into the manager for the performance of the stiffs in a meaningless fixture is the territory of the ‘desperate to be offended’.
I’m with Jon @ 21.
Apart from the ‘dereliction of duty’ bit, so am I zico…
Holic, ripping into the manager for the decision. Not for the performance. That decision was shocking and it might cost us points in the league.
Even if Miquel plays and even if he doesn’t we’re still gonna have a back four of 4 CBs.
That isn’t the ideal situation going away to a team who has scored 48 goals this season.
Except the “dereliction of duty part” I was just about to say…..
I don’t believe that AW doesn’t take his duty seriously. Does make weird decisions at times, though.
A hugely flattering scoreline and a really disappointing performance.
Very few positives to take from this, Oxlade was the major one. Miguel did pretty well when he came on, Benayoun’s goal was superb, and Frimpong and Coquelin tried hard.
Arsahavin as usual stunk the place out and looked as if he couldn’t give a toss. Definitely one to off-load in January and get off the wage bill.
Really disaapointed to see so many defensive fuckups from experienced players who should know better.
Olympiakos are a good side but this was a well below par performance from our 2nd string side with plenty of experienced players.
Exactly.
If you take the end of frankie’s comment and mix it with Baltimorean’s at 17, you’ll get how I feel about today’s match.
Steve T, I’m sure Park was supposed to feature around 60 mins but no-one is their wildest dreams saw both Flappy and Santos getting injured tonight, no chance for Park coming on 2-0 or 2-1 down, Le Boss prefers stability over attacking impetus anyway (Rosicky)
Ibthink some are being a bit harsh on Rosicky. I thought we looked better when he came on.
It is the stubborn issue again.Wengers logic is that he will show the fans and the hacks how clever he is and he will keep doing it till he can defend it no more.So the greeks were a bit committed is that enough for us to totally crumble and look like a pub side.Arshavin,squid,fabianski and mannone looked like they wished to be somewhere else and Chamakh i am not even going to bother rating.We are simply put one or two injuries away from a melt down and a promising come back will be derailed completely.I guarentee as soon as we pass 31st of January and the stubborn one have failed to strenghten once again Van Persie will be out for the season and TM will do his achilles once again.
Ah, Danish. Where would be without you after a defeat.
What have you been doing after all of these recent wins? We haven’t seen you.
@33.
Long time no see.
Oh yeah, we’ve been on a good run. ๐
Beat me too it ‘holic. ๐
I have to say that Arshavin’s performance was absolutely pathetic not only in terms of ability but in attitude.He has the worst body language I have ever seen from a professional football player and has been a huge disappointment .I can no longer see a future for him at the club.The same is clearly true of Squillaci,Djourou (certainly at right back) and Chamakh.
Hopefully Wenger will realise we need better back-up goalkeepers (both are clowns) and that we are short of experienced specialist full-backs. It is also clear that Frimpong needs a spell on loan where he can develop some game experience and maturity.He is nowhere near the quality of Wilshere as has been implied in some quarters this week.
A useful night if Wenger was paying attention!
Not sure why anyone is bothered about the result tbh, some of these players (AOC, Frimpong, Coquelin, Miquel) can be mixed in with the first team and we won’t suffer much of a drop in performance. Ask them to carry the weight of Arshavin, Chamakh, Squillaci and you’re not gonna gonna end up with anything positive.
Frimpong needs a loan to a PL club, one like Swansea that require pass and move would be more beneficial that a hoof and hope team like Wolves. Chamakh needs a run of games, but playing the way he is we just can’t afford to give him those games.
I’ve already mentioned the decision to play Santos, only the boss can explain why he felt the need to risk him. He’c created his own problem so he better make sure he fixes it too.
Danish,
Is back.
Must be time for the “Wenger Out” routine…….
Holic,
Right up at stupid o’clock tomorrow so time for zzzzz.
Holic, hope you and the Management have a great time tomorrow night. I might even look at Twitter just to see you trending as the night wears on ๐
We have known all along if Szczesny or RVP get injured we are fucked tonight told us nothing new
Flappy and Manonne are shite
Chamakh get worse every game if thats possible.A shocking player
Djourou had another nightmare.
And Wenger had the cheek to tell us this is his best squad ever
Lot of doom about tonight.
Get well soon slightly bonkas Brazilian
Up The Arse!
I can’t claim to understand Arsene’s reasons for playing Santos, but I’m sure he had some. And the way he’s turned this team around in the last few months is cause enough to give him some slack.
Yossi is proving to be other good signing. He was one of the few players driving forward. Deserved his goal.
Was glad to see Rosicky come on. He nearly grabbed a goal too.
Chamakh struggled, but I appreciate the way he keeps putting in the effort. As much as I want him to return to form for Arsenal, I wonder if he would benefit from moving to a team that plays to his strengths in the air. Perhaps the African Cup of Nations will give him the opportunity to recover the Chamakh-attack buried inside.
Arshavin is another one of those players that I hoped would return to his form of old, but for someone that’s fighting to get back into the squad, he doesn’t seem to be trying too hard. I’m willing to forgive a lack of form, but the lack of effort is disappointing.
From what I’ve heard, we have a pair of talented keepers in the reserves. Surely one of them can replace Mannone. The second goal would have been complete comedy had it not been us that conceded it.
Can’t complain about the result. It didn’t matter to us. Olympiacos needed the win and played well (were unlucky not to advance). Best of luck to them in the Europa League. I hope they thrash Man City. ๐
Thanks zico.
Hello Joshua. I’ll wind my neck in from my first attack and say the reason why Santos played is clear. Le Boss was worried that playing an inexperienced centre-back (Miquel) at left-back in such an atmosphere might not help his development, and may even have a negative effect.
That doesn’t mean I don’t think it was a bad call. It was, I thought, beforehand, and it clearly was with the benefit of hindsight.
Wenger brought the circus to Greece tonight with his chief clowns in goal.They need to be replaced by an experienced back up keeper in january or bring back Jens again because he is better than those imposters
Djourou and Squillaci cant defend end of
Chamakh makes Bendtner look like Henry,We paid nothing for Chamakh and thats exactly what he’s worth
Arshavin has been strolling about for the last 2 years but Wenger keeps picking him so who can blame him
Lucky we didnt lose by 5 goals
I think we all generally agree. We all know those who have potential. We all know those that are now squad players. We all know those that need to be moved on and we all know Danish will turn up when it does not go quite right. None of that is new to anyone and none of it is stuff to get too excited about. If anything we should hopefully take the positives that if there were doubts over certain players that they were ironed out this evening.
I don’t see it as just slaughtering AW re the selection of Santos and TV. I am amazed either played. I am very disappointed that Santos has picked up a knock. I would have been fuming had TV done the same. Only the boss will know why he took such a huge gamble in such a nothing game.
Danish, don’t be a stranger. I am always interested to read the views of all true Gooners, but you have to feel that those who turn up just after a defeat and spout negativity are just a fraction tainetd.
wenger haters coming out of the woodwork
Let’s not get too hasty here…
Santos is injured we all know that now even though it was a crazy idea to play him tonight, especially in a game like this. It’s was a very bizarre game and even though I thought we might not win it I have never expected for anyone to get injured.
Let’s not dwell only on bad things that have happened tonight, we have won the group. We were the first English team to get to the last 16 and most of all we still have Robin!
It was a gamble and it didn’t pay off. Let’s get behind those who will wear the shirt with more pride this coming Saturday! As I honestly believe those more experienced tonight let us down the most. Either way, those young ones will hurt tonight and I hope they will learn from this. You can’t teach them if you don’t play them I suppose.
It was unfortunate for Santos to get injured and as someone has mentioned on here earlier I believe Miquel is more than capable to fill in the spot.
Are you up on Saturday Arthur?
Steve, did you say you were hoping to pop in tonight, or did I dream that somewhere?
Wind, re Park. You may well be right. However we are now into December, he is fully fit and he has hardly been asked to kick a ball. I think asking why that is, is a perfectly valid question.
Holic. I am working tomorrow evening but if possible I will pop in. It will however depend on many things. However, I am up for a scoop or two after the game on Saturday if you are about? That is assuming I am welcome and you don’t blank me this time???????
๐
Sorry, tonight even………. Had not looked at the clock.
Meh. We’re the worst team in the word again, ouenger oot etc.
Positive spin on Santos in jury: if he gets injured early during an important game : bad. Now he gets injured during a meaningless game so we can prepare for life without him for a few games.
If he’d played while in the red zone: madness.
But random injury, shit happens. Yes would have been sensible torts h but you can’t wrap your players in cotton wool all the time, especially when they need to work on their fitness.
Viva Arsenal!
iPod autocorrect to blame for the bizarre things in my post
Blast you, ‘Holic, how DARE you try to make sense when there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth to be done? For “We Are The Arsenal” (TM)!
You should have seen the carping and whining on Arsenal-Mania. You’d have thought this meaningless game had gotten us relegated. Sometimes there are Gooners who are like a character on the U.S. lawyer show “Ally McBeal”: We’re happier when we lose, because, when we win, there’s no one to blame!
Let them drink bitters tonight, I’ll have my usual ice cold Magner’s.
‘torts h’ is ‘to rest him’. I mean, fat fingers probably more to blame than anything else
Evening Ollie.
Steve, will definitely be there Saturday until 2pm beforehand, and after the game. It promises to be murderously busy. The ‘holics (and several distinguished arsebloggers) will be in conversation under the brolly, weather permitting, or in the new extension indoors.
Holic,
Unfortunately not, for one I don’t have a ticket secondly I have me Junior to look after.
Shame as I know it will definitely be a cracker!
Joshua @ 44, Agree with everything you said, everything! Except it did matter to me about winning. Call me greedy.
Martin @ 46 Bring back Jens, I with you on that.
Hello Uncle Mike,
Careful on that Magners. We don’t want an apple shortage now, do we? ๐
Probably right ‘Holic. I’m sure Wenger is just as disappointed with the outcome as we are.
Could Danish Gooner be LeG Rash in disguise?
On second thought, probably not. LeG Rash usually makes more sense.
No Joshua, from the ip I can tell you they are as far apart as they could possibly be, in every way.
Anyway, gorn.
Will see some of you tomorrow.
Take care all.
I think the strangest element is that comparing this team with the one versus City in the beer cup – it would have made more sense to risk a few regulars in that one. Does that make me a Wenger hater? No chance…quite the opposite.
It’s remarkable that Arshavin’s stock has dropped so low, I don’t think he’ll be transfer listed in January so the question is how do we get some value out of him? We hopefully still have 30-35 games to play this season and the little man will surely feature at times. So how does he turn it round. I hear he’s a confidence player but isn’t going to get a run to acquire that probably. I can’t remember the last time one of our most expensive ever signings was such a peripheral figure. I’d be fine with him leaving but equally fine with a solution that makes him a valuable squad player for the rest of this season.
The general view is he can’t arsed, but I see a player who looks tired after 15 mins and even more so after any sort of sprinting. I know there’s no easy fix but what a sad conclusion to his time in London.
Tim, yeah it’s sad, for him and the club. But enough is enough already. Time for him to move on. And us to acquire a striker who can do his job and score goals!
4 center backs against Everton? JD and FBF in the actual center back positions, I assume. It could be interesting, in a positive way I hope.
FBF meant to be BFG. Thanks ‘holic for the write-up as I missed the game. ๐
One for any and all gooners out having a good time in Greece despite the loss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqHQqb5ot74&ob=av2n
This defeat though expected has certainly hurt some fans as they atleast expected some effort from the squad. Arshavin really is becoming a liability on the field. I read somewhere that he has started sulking from the day when he came to know that his salary was ‘xxx’ before tax and not ‘xxx’ after tax. It suffered a further blow when the UK govt. increased individual tax rates.
Regarding the Santos injury I am of the opinion that we have to accept it as our fate rather than Wenger being foolish to have played him. We are currently without our two first choice RBs and LBs. Irrespective of who plays at LB in the next few games I am sure team effort and everyone playing for each other would ensure that it is not a chink in the armour.
Okidoki, I’m on a proper key board now.
I stand by my original comment, I thought we were piss poor tonight, the result was never going to matter to us in terms of qalification, so that we lost is a moot point, however, I did expect the team that AW put out to give the Greeks more of a run for their money then we did, there were experienced internationals out there and to say I was dissapointed is putting it mildly.
What were the defence playing at?
They were an absolute shambles.
This was not a back four made up of inexperienced kids, not by a long shot, the only one who hasn’t had regular football or is almost guarenteed a starting berth was Squidy, whom I’ve never really expected much of, so his performance shouldn’t really be a shock to anyone, but there were three others in there too.
Santos didn’t really do too much before he was, very unfortunatly for the next games, (but that’s been covered), carted off, his replacement Miguel did well.
JD had an absolute ‘mare, a game he’ll no doubt want to forget about real quick, shame because I feel he’s done quite well recently when called upon, I disagree strongly with those who suggest he needs to go in the next window, but improvement and a bit more consistency is needed.
I was dissapointed with the Verm’, usually a star, but tonight not so much. He wore the armband, yet our team looked rudderless. He’s always the first to have a go, but tonight it just didn’t happen, here’s hoping that was just a one off and he’ll bounce back for the more important fixtures to come.
The more time that someone else spends in goal, the better that Woj looks, there was just no communication from either of our keepers tonight. Defenders summon their confidence from the man between the sticks, it was plain to see that they had little faith in the guys out there tonight. Fab bemoans the fact that he doesn’t make enough appearances, well thank fuck for that, is all I can say, in the short time he was on he didn’t look impressive at all, the less said about Vito, the better, sorry, but these guys are just not good enough I know it must be difficult to sign a keeper who knows he’s going to be an understudy to Woj, but we need a more realible option, surely there must be someone out there?
In the middle of the park we gave the ball away far too easy, this ofcourse put a shaky defence under even more unwanted pressure. Apart from Bennygoon, the other lads (Coq, FRim) were pretty green, so I’ll just chalk that down to the learning curve and hope they came away from that game with some valid experience and have learned a lot from their step up to the CL.
The same goes for Ox, let’s not forget how young he is and where he was this time last year, from Southampton to an away game in the CL is a massive step up, give him time and I think he’ll be a major asset, but let’s not expect too much of him, or Coq or Frim for that matter, too soon.
I see Rosicky is getting a bit of stick, as I mentioned above I don’t agree that’s warrented, he looked pretty lively to me.
That just leaves AA and Chamakh. The latter looks out of his depth, sad because I thought he done a stirling job filling in for RvP when he first arrived, but since the turn of the year, he just hasn’t been the same. If he’s still at the club in the new year, then we’ll still be without him as he participates in the ACoN, I hope he can find whatever it is he lost while he’s there and return to us after a few goalscoring appearances with a new vigour and hunger for goals, otherwise I can’t see much of a future for him at the HoF.
I posted in the previous drinks that AA was the type of mecurial player that strives on confidence, well at this moment he has none, his form is really in the crapper and it’s heartbreaking to see. Almost everything he tries just doesn’t come off lately, he looks broken and as someone previously mentioned his body language tell’s a sad story. I truly hope he can find some type of form, but it’s just not happening for him at the moment.
Sorry for that rant, as most of you know I usually try to fixate on the positives, but tonight I was stunned at how below par we were.
That said, the Wenger out brigade need to get a grip, you don’t know how lucky we are. When push comes to shove this result means not a jot and lest you forget, this time last night we were the only PL club guarenteed to be in the draw for the next round.
Next up, Everton and the return of the first XI, I can hardly wait.
Voddie shots on the bar for those who are up for it.
Cheers.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I too thought “WTF” when I saw Santos in the starting line-up. No reason for it at all. Thought Miquel was very capable of holding his own and he did so when he came in.
Also thought Verm got injured on the first goal as he slid knee first into the goal post (Whew!, that was close).
Bottom line is the youngsters in the midfield couldn’t handle the pressure which put the back four in a number of very tough spots. They got knocked off the ball and thought they had more time as they received the passes….and many were stolen. That said, the miscommunication and the play of Djourou was is poor as I’ve seen.
Luckily the DVR cut out due to all of the first half injury time and I was spared the cock-up in the end. Glad I didn’t have to see it, don’t want to know anything about it.
Get three points on Saturday and all is forgotten. Get your heads up, Gooners!!
Iam sure koiscelny can fill in at left back he has plenty of pace and with djourou at right back and bfg and the verminator in the middle I know its not ideal but seems solid enough to me for a few games the fans shouldn’t dwell on this game too much but like the manu game hopefully it opened wengers eyes to which players can be trusted and who not!
@74: I’ll join you in a vodka shot or two because it seems we’re singing from the same song sheet.
A game to forget more for the performance than the result and a penny for every article you read that includes “Greek Tragedy” in it. I think if you combine every sports journalist together you will get an organism with a single brain cell.
Head up gooners. And don’t feed the trolls, they’ll soon go back to their Manure/LWC forums.
Is Santos such a big loss? His defending is consistently dodgy, no?
If Arsene is forced to be creative at left back, he could find a better solution – maybe Coquelin.
Djourou had a nightmare of a match. Arshavin and Chamakh were passengers – although Chamakh had an assist.
It was a strange match.
If Olympiacos had won 5-0, it would have felt about right.
433 – His defending is not dodgy.
He leads the team in interceptions and tackles.
Even in the so called bad game he had against Chelsea he won 11 (!) tackles.
He is extremely useful coming forward. He can go past people, can play one – twos, can cross a ball and deliver a great low cross as well.
He offers so much in attack and is solid at the back.
I for one would prefer him over Gibbs if both are healthy.
He is a major loss.
As for playing without him, I think we’ll be fine for this weekend but City will be rough. We’ll have less of an attacking threat and a harder time defensively.
Ok. Fair enough. I’ve had the impression, including tonight before he went off, that he can be a liability in defense, but I hope you’re right and I’m wrong.
The problem he has (as do all the defenders at our club) is lack of understanding with his teammates when to go gamble on the offside.
That comes with training.
The one-on-one skill in tackling that he has is a skill. It’s very hard to teach that albeit possible.
When a player just arrives to a club you have to look at his raw abilities, at his abilities that aren’t dependent on his understanding with his teammates and that is one of them.
He is a big, big loss due to a stupid decision.
Thank you guys i argued the Santos playing saga on another site today,i cant beleive it either,but on wards and upwards,cmon Arsenal.
433 @78 Santos is a big big loss he is finding his feet and as Snir said look at the statistics he was looking to be a class act.
Joshua @ 63: No way! The venerable LeG Rash is way funnier and is the best piss taker on here. I actually love to read what he has to say because I had a mate – Dale – that used to carry on just like that…
Anyway, the bar is a pretty gloomy place this evening. Popped in for a late aperitif but should have gone to bed instead. Some excellent points already made. And kudos to Holic for calling it before hand. Le Boss sometimes gets it wrong but mostly he get it right – thank goodness. Maybe it was a case of him thinking that Santos needed games to get fit or maybe he wanted to take him for a laugh but either way its not the end of the world. Young Miguel can play LB and Kos we already know is excellent at RB, so the 4 CB’s at the back issue is not as bad as we are making it out to be.
Now then I suggest we drink up and get home & to bed. Busy week ahead for most and we need to be rested for the weekend.
Good Night lads..
Morning all
Holic – Beautifully anonymous criticism! I think we all know who the usual suspects are, and I for one, look forward to the final pruning of the squad in January.
Big Arsed coffee, please…
Too much dooming on here over last night. So, I will try and list the positives
1. Coq/Pong/Chambo will learn from this experience. Definitely.
2. Did you see chambo skinning their left back from a standing start. That’s what he can do which Theo can’t at the moment.
3. Benayoun volley was sheer class
4. His chip pass to Rosicky deserved a better finish
5. TV didn’t get injured
6. Miquel’s cross led to the goal. I thought generally he did very well.
7. Santos’ injury might not keep him out for Citeh? clutching at straws here ๐
Now, would you Djourou against Everton? Or stick Miquel in there with TV,Per and Kos
Missed the game but I’ve glanced through the drinks and also watched a couple of the goals.
I tend to agree with those who say, “We didn’t actually learn anything we didn’t already know.”
Our understudy defenders are clowns. That mix-up for the first goal was up there with the Beer Cup final debacle.
Our reserve keepers are utterly, utterly unfit for purpose – anyone who’s surprised by the keeping last night should just go back to last season (or was it the one before?) when we had a large dose of FlappyHandski between the sticks. Seriously, why flipping heck didn’t Mannone CATCH THE F*CKING BALL!? It was travelling through the air at about the same speed as my 8-year-old niece can throw.
Final point though, his attempted clearance was hilarious. If the defence were the keystone cops, he was Harold Lloyd. Comedy.
Onwards and upwards Ureds. Just thank your lucky stars that’s not our first team!
To anybody going to the book launch – have fun!
And Holic, don’t forget to ask the necessary people what we talked about re my dad please ๐
Snir, will do.
If shitty draw and Napoli lose 1-0, will oil cunts still be out?
Jesus H Bergkamp, we lose one game that basically was little more than a 90-minute training exercise and the moaners are all out in full force.
As so many have pointed out, we already knew that Squillaci is not consistently good enough, we already knew that Djourou is in no way a right-back, we already knew that Arshavin has been replaced by a sub-standard clone et cetera et cetera. Let’s just forget it and move on.
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus. The Arsenal team take the pitch to play their match against Olympiacos. Chamakh looks uneasily at the baying supporters swearing in Greek and spitting venomous bile at him. He then looks at the Olympiacos fans. He closes his eyes for a second, takes a deep breath and focuses on the mission at hand. Michelle Platini takes his seat in the directorโs box with a few of his bodyguards and UEFA officials nearby. He has a glass of champagne in his left hand and a plate of hors dโoeuvres in front of him. He is thoroughly enjoying witnessing Arsenal struggle against the Greeks. The Greeks score twice and each time Platini throws his champagne all over everyone within close proximity. Thierry Henry is also in attendance. He is wearing a blazer, jeans and white sneakers and standing in the corner looking at the scene Platiniโs making. It is now half-time and Platini turns to his bodyguard Bruno.
Platini: Bruno, what do you think of that, eh? Good fun, nโest-ce pas? Iโm so glad I made it out here to see this live.
Bruno: Very good, sir.
Platini: I even have half a mind to fine Wenger for fielding a second string team but then again, if not for that I wouldnโt be bursting my hemorrhoids laughing.
Bruno: Certainly, sir.
Platini: Second halfโs starting. Letโs hope some more humiliation is coming up.
The second half gets underway. Henry is fitting a headset into his left ear.
Platini: Ahaha! Santos injured! This might be my best night everโฆ
Platini is still jumping up and down and laughing like a drunk hyena when Chamakh chests the ball for Benayoun to score a volley. He instantly sobers up.
Platini: Ah, this is shit. I thought you told me there was no way this team could score tonight Bruno.
Bruno: Sorry sir. Iโm sure it wonโt happen again, sir.
Platini: Tโes un con. Iโm going to the toilet.
Platini gets up and heads towards the door at the back of the room followed by his bodyguards. Henry gets up after a couple of minutes and follows him out the door. Platini leaves the two bodyguards outside the bathroom door and goes in alone. Henry goes into the bathroom as well and locks the door behind him. Platini is muttering to himself while taking a piss.
Platini: When will this burning stopโฆ
Without missing a beat Henry walks up behind Platini, covers his mouth with a cloth full of chloroform and catches his body as it slumps. One of the bathroom stalls opens allowing a fat Alain Prost and Shaft to walk out.
Shaft: Good work T. Meet the new Platini. Now help me get the old one into the stall. Alain, you know what to do.
Alain: Oui, Iโve been training for this for weeks now.
Alain walks out of the door and is escorted back to his seat in the directorโs box. He then proceeds to act even more of a fool in front of everyone. Meanwhile, Shaft and Henry escort Platini out of the bathroom and out of the stadium into the back of a non-descript black van with tinted glass windows. The van speeds off into the inky night.
Harsha, yes they will. And it does not matter if Napoli lose 100-0 if City fail to win, because in the CL you count the points/goal diff from the meetings between the teams tied on points before total goal diff and Napoli win that one 4-1 on points.
Lars, well said.
As for Shitty, knowing how badly last night went (not just our loss, but the Chavs suddenly turning round and pulling it out of the bag) they’ll probably disappoint us by getting through. Ho hum.
And Apoel Nicsola or whatever will draw Man United in the last 16.
Wonders will never cease…
Onwards to more important matters!
The boy wonder from South London picks it up on the halfway, jinks round two onrushing Orcs, steps on Lennie’s head and plays a cheek through-ball for…
*cheeky
Wins!
Whi jinks past one defender, then another, and start going down his favoured wing.
Plays the ball into the middle for…
Me – who curls it into the top corner. Lush!
Cheers Wins – nice assist mate!
Wind* Who*
Well in Camberwell, your rehabilitation is going as planned ๐
The patient is learning from the doctor ๐
:lol:, Wins is the product of my Blackberry keyboard Camberwell.
Although there could be a potential use… 8)
Thought so…
Santos- madness indeed. Good balanced write up holic. However, I think a backline of verm left back, Mert and Kos central, Coq right back; would work very well. You want an attacking left back, verm’s yer man! The rest of the team is picking itself at the moment.
Have a great day at the tollie!
I aim to help all my patients, its my responsibilty, as I AM a Doctor ๐
Bad news for Lars, and indeed most of us I suspect…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/leeds-fa-cup-date-confirmed
ESPN scum ๐
Well in Camberwell ๐
ESPN scum indeed…
Many thanks Holic – saved my bacon .
We can now confirm that the following FA Cup 3rd Round fixture will be played as under:
Arsenal v Leeds United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Monday 9th January 2012
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Live on: ESPN
ย
Regards,
Arsenal Football Club
On a Monday at 7:45, seriously!!! What kind of diet Champions League fixture is this?
Even if I didn’t have exams, I’d struggle to make this fixture.
What the hell happened to the 7/8 January matchday anyway…
Ah ‘holic, crumbs indeed.
Didn’t someone here said we didn’t know much but only that it COULDN’T Be on a monday?
ESPN scum scum scum.
Looks like I’ll have to miss the game. Gutted…
(I suspect it will do my finances good if Eurostar is a bad as I have seen for Boxing Day and not serving NYE).
Lars , let me know if you are buggered re flights for Leeds . Feel responsible ๐
Indeed Ollie.
They should not be allowed to do it.
Me too, TaBS.
Keep me in the loop.
Fuck, just got the fixture update email – of course the Leeds game will be on fucking Monday night…
Nothing to do but re-book the return flight, then.
Arshavin was the biggest disappointment for me last night. He’s planning like someone who feels he’s treated as second best … because he is. Time we off-loaded him to anyone that will pay folding cash. Chamakh just hash’t had enough time in the team to find his feet or confidence. And Miguel deserves a chance in the men’s ten given Santos/Gibbs enforced absence.
Glad you can take the monday/tuesday? off, enjoy the game then, Lars.
And Miguel deserves a chance in the menโs ten
Ten? I hope Arshavin doesn’t play so make it eleven ๐
Flights rebooked, flying over on Saturday morning and home on Tuesday at 9.30 so I’ll have to be up rather early on Tuesday morning, though I am flying from London City which means I’ll probably save upwards of an hour compared to Heathrow. But again tabs, I don’t blame you at all. I should have checked the date on the article. And no harm done, BA are rather generous with their re-booking policies even for the cheaper tickets it seems.
But I do now officially hate ESPN. A fucking Monday night???
Cheers Ollie, I’ll use the now available Friday (which is a holiday in Sweden) to make up for the Monday.
I know this is s massive week for Arsenal. 125 celebrations, statues, book launches etc but has one just slipped by without anyone noticing? The unveiling of the Fabianski statue took place last night in Greece, 3 days early. Not one of us raised a glass. Shame on us all.
๐
Well that’s me fecked then.
Unless……
Are tickets on sale yet?
zico, no info on .con as yet about tickets. But I would assume it should open pretty soon and also that it opens for Red just a few days after Silver – if not even at the same time. This is not a game that will sell out, so tickets should be very easy to come by.
Cheers Lars,
Tickets will be easier to get hold of than Roxette brownie points!
Lars , fair enough mate Cheers , but if the change of flights cost you any dough , let me know , and I’ll reimburse you in Beer in The Tollie .
SteveT ๐
My own feeling on Fabianski last night was that he had done reasonably well up to the goal , notwithstanding that his own haunted look inspires no confidence . However , as soon as the goal went in , he rightly felt partially responsible , and immediately went to pieces . He appears unable to put mistakes behind him a la Sches , and whilst technically I think he’s a better keeper than most give him credit for , I just don’t think he has the necessary “mental strength” to make it at a top club .
Sad to say but Mannone doesn’t have enough to even be 3rd choice .
Good Morning All
Going to adopt the patented Prof Storey ‘head in bucket of sand’ technique regarding last night. Forgotten already as I contemplate who Sp*urs will be playing in the knockout stages of The Champions League ๐
Very upset about out our Brazillian leftback. Get well soon Andre Santos! We will miss you!
Hope to see a few of you down The Tollie tonight (tabs, SteveT, etc.). Should be a good warm-up for the main event on Saturday.
Shaft @ #93 – The CMC has been re-stocked especially for you ๐
Drink all round please Mr.Barman and safe passage to North London with Management. As tabs would say, hope you can find The Tollie ๐
tabs: oh, well in that case the change cost me ยฃ1500 ๐
zico: heh, you’d better start earning the brownie points straight away then!
SteveT: hahaha, that was a bit evil but very, very funny ๐
Oh, I see. Thanks Lars
I really really want one if not both of the manc teams to go out tonight to make up for last night.
Come on Napoli and Basel!!
Heh @Steve T
Harsha, I am torn between wanting them to crash out and wanting them to have to play tiring games in February/March. But I guess tonight I’ll just lean back and put my feet up on the table and flick back and forth between the games on the telly, safe in the knowledge that I don’t really mind whatever the outcome ๐
Hej Lars @ #130
Excellent points.
The Abu Dhabi Vulgarians have a squad deep enough to allow them to get through hectic schedules better than most, including The Mighty Arse.
Therefore, my preference, is that The ADVs start playing Europa League sh*tball with the LWCs and The Munsters and that United go through…. so that we can beat them in the next round!
Is that too much to ask, Footballing Gods?
I think it’s likely to happen, TS.
Basel should really have beaten the Indebted Mancs at Old Shiteford, but that lucky draw will mean enough. I honestly don’t see Basel winning tonight, however shite United are.
Besides, there’s been a trend this year of results having been globally shite or globally good for each CL Matchday. Yesterday showed we’re on the ‘shite’ week ๐
Which might also mean Abu Dhabi FC will go through, but surely not?
Fingers crossed here Ollie ๐
I look forward to seeing Stoke rugby tackling with The ADVs on a Thursday night….. not!
If PSG qualify, it would be somewhat funny to have PSG vs ADV in the Europe League.
Ollie, I think Abu Dhabi FC has a better chance than many seem to think. BM will quite obviously not play their best team so a home win is to be expected, and it remains to be seen if Napoli can handle the pressure v Villarreal. They have been underdogs in the previous five games (with the possible exception of Villarreal at home) but now they are firm favourites with many.
And I agree about ManU, however crap they have been lately they have still been good enough to get the results in almost every game. Contrary to popular belief lightning can indeed strike twice in the same place, but I don’t think tonight is one of those cases. Just hope they don’t kill off the game too early, that would be a bit boring.
@ 131
Probably.
@136: You’ve seen me in action then?
My ideal scenario is for Man Utd to qualify 2nd, only to be swiped aside by Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, instilling a lack of confidence, which in turn sends them off the rails for the league and/or FA Cup.
The embrassment of 3rd will also do.
My ideal scenario for Man Citeh is for them to get smashed at home and join the LWCs in mediocrity on Thursday Nights, oh wait, the LWCs aren’t going to qualify you say?
Virtually been knocked out of the Europa as well eh? ๐
Well, at least Stoke and Fulham will keep the Oil Club company ๐
Heh @ 137
Eh – seems that there is more than one “Joe” on here, so I’m going to distance myself from the commentator @ 117 and in particular the thoughts concerning Arshavin.
Last night was a disappointing result – but there is a big difference between Carling Cup and Champions league. Contrary to the general consensus that Santos should have been left out, I actually thought that he’s been in need of games given a lack of fitness / adjustment to EPL football? Just a thought.
Good to see Coq, Oxo and Miguel play again. I thought they played well. I’m delighted that some of the first team managed to get a break – as they’ll need to be fresh for Everton.
Good luck to all in the Tollie tonight. I genuinely wish I could have travelled. Apart from putting faces to names, it’s the makings of a great night. While we continue to celebrate the Club, its players and manager, sometimes the supporters, and especially those who’ve contributed to the book and provide such wonderful forums for discussion like this one, you need to take a bow too!
Voices in my head……
The scene : Operations Room – D L Ltd
Dr Feelgood, Professor Storey and Wolfgang Smallballs are starting the day in sensible fashion. ย There’s coffee and pastries, the morning papers are strewn across the table and Wolfgang is putting the finishing touches to his mascara. ย Dr Feelgood is looking relaxed and keen to get the morning in motion :
Feelgood : “Well, it’s good to be back. ย I sure have missed the sight of your sales graphs Edwin.”
Edwin and Wolfgang are not listening. ย They are having a small spat.
Edwin (to Wolfgang) : “Give it back. It’s mine.”
Wolfgang : “It’s only a hand mirror. ย Anyway, finders keepers, you shouldn’t have left it lying around at the allotment….”
Edwin : “I need it for my experiments, you big queen…”
Feelgood : “Now, now, boys and girls, that’s enough. ย We have a lot to discuss, a lot has happened since I have been away, and to cap it all, Arsenal were caught up in a Greek tragedy last night. ย Speaking of tragedies, how the fuck did that dweeb, Danish, get on board the Happy Train?”
Edwin : “Security matters have scarcely improved since you went to “the Spa”, Dr F. ย There is still a big void to fill now that Carlos is freelancing across Europe. ย His Goons try hard, their hands are in the right face, but ultimately they are leaderless.”
Feelgood : “Well I spent a lot of time thinking about that when I was away. ย It’s time to mend some fences, build some bridges.”
Edwin : “I think that’s a splendid idea. ย What’s the plan?”
Feelgood : “Well, I thought for starters, a massive ย 2 per cent increase in salary for all medical staff – that’s where our problems started.”
Edwin : “That’s not going to work, Tinkerbell here, already gave them a 10% raise….”
Feelgood (shocked) : “WHAT?”
Wolfgang : “The Misters threatened me. ย They were holding me to ransom. ย They said they would remove my spanking rights…..”
Feelgood (directly to Edwin) : “Can’t you DO something about her, err him, whatever?”
Edwin (quietly) : “He does have his uses, Dr F, remember the riot suit padding?”
Feelgood : ย “Well, I think we may have to offer an olive jar to Carlos, I’m prepared to let bygones be big ones…..”
Edwin: “I think the expression is olive “branch”, Dr F, but really, after all that’s happened, you would have Carlos back?”
Feelgood : “I’ve mellowed Professor. ย I’ve taken stock. ย I’ve even paid for some. ย Yes, the Bring Back Carlos campaign starts here. ย With one condition,”
Edwin : “Which is?”
Feelgood: ย “He brings his son Roberto, cause we need a left back for Saturday…..”
Very nice flourish for the ending Zico, but i think Miguel deputising at LB wouldn’t be such a problem if it wasn’t such a momentus occasion for everyone involved with Arsenal Football Club.
Joe (real or otherwise) @ 141
Giving Santos a game to up his fitness level might have been the right thing to do in “normal” circumstances. However as he was the only fit full back currently available, it was madness to play him in a match that meant absolutely nothing.
I am not convinced playing 3 games a week would address his fitness thing at the moment anyway – I think he needs to be given a serious stamina building course pre-season.
Wind, ending?
There is no end….. ๐
Sorry Zico, the voices told me to say it… ๐
Re: Feelgood. Tan, rested and ready, I see. ๐
Heh Wind ๐
Feelgood for Republican Party nominee, anyone? ๐
8 Ball,
No rest for the wicked ๐
Even less for the serially deranged. Poor Wolfie.
Afternoon chums, resting before ripping into the coke tonight ๐
Although that is obviously the wrong thing to say around you drugged up nutters..
John Daniels strongly recommends coke.
As does Captain Morgan.
And Comrade Smirnoff.
All friends you can meet at the Tollington Arms. So I’m told.
The Aim Is To Irritate!!! And That’s A Fact!!! In MY Opinion!!!!!!!!
Champions League – Chumpions League More Like!!!
Now the cat IS well and truly out of the kit (ty) bag and running amok among the pigeons, all over Europe: Arsenal’s reserve team IS NOT as good AS Arsenal’s first team! Fact! And as I say, as of last night, ALL of Europe knows that now – fact! Fact! Fact! I can’t repeat that often enough. Fact!
Why can’t we be more like Manc Shiteh and have a reserve side full of overpriced, overpaid, pissed-off, wantaway, greedy bastard, footballing mercenaries who hardly ever play?!?
We’ve got money in the bank – AND it’s not going to beat 3 players and bang one in the top corner before getting booked for taking its shirt off and throwing it in to the crowd – from there – IS IT?
SPEND all our cash-reserves on our reserves NOW Mr. So-Called Manager.
(NOTE – that’s a catchy refrain we can all join in with and chant at the next home game – chums – “Spend all our cash reserves on our reserves NOWWWWW, spend all our cash reserves onnnn etc …” – you got it – I’m sure – and remember when it’s ringing round The Emirates – you heard it here first).
AND the manager has had 15 years to put this situation right. Alright Shiteh have got even more dough than us – admittedly – but he’s managed to sort it in 1 and a half seasons – old Roberto Itie. ( That’s not racist by the way, I was calling them Ities before the word racist was even invented. AND my best mate at school was one, AND he didn’t mind being called one – day in, day out, all day long. AND he was called a lot worse as well – believe me!!! So sprinkle that on your pasta and chew it slowlily – you so-called do-gooders!)
Anyway – it turns out – in a tale from the footballing dark-ages – that our reserves are full of some experienced pros, who are not quite good enough to get in the first team, AND talented, BUT inexperienced, youngsters still learning their first-team trade.
IS that an excuse for a drop in OUR usual very high levels of performance so far this season? No!!! Not in my book!!! NO!!! It’s not acceptable!!NO!!!
Why should it be?!? Our reserves are getting paid shed loads more dosh than you or me (especially you to be honest – as I’m doing alright coating Arsenal for a living, as it happens). AND the reserves are practising and training every bit as much as the first-team – all day every day – and sometimes more than that.
SO RESERVES – be as good as the first team, then you get to be in the first team, and the next time the manager decides to send out the reserves they won’t be the reserves at all, they’ll be the fukkin’ first team. Problemo solvedo – SIMPLES! AND that way there’ll be no more nights like last night AND everybody’s happy chappies! Sorted!
So – on that upbeat note – it’s almost toodle pips from me peoples – but I am going to leave you with one final thought/footnote/question type thing for you to mull over at your leisure. Ask yourself – will either of the Manc teams send out their reserves tonight?!? Then ask yourself why not – in light of everythink I’ve said today!?!
And if you read this Mr. Arsenal manager (and quiet but important voices in my ear tell me he does) You do the same thing!!!
Another quick final thought that I just thought of. Our updated Champs league stats now read played one lost one. Is that acceptable as we proceed into the knock-out stages – yet again – of football’s most prestigious club competition? Not in my opinion it’s not.
One final, final thought I’d like to leave you with. Here we are stuck in 6th spot in the league, having scraped through in our champions league group as champions with one game to go. NOW who in their right mind thought we’d be in THIS MESS as recently as August/September??!?
Exactly!!!
Lars 136, true.
Didn’t realise all the ins and outs of the Abu Dhabi situation, but now I see they may well go through.
As for ‘holics 152. Well for a second I imagined you as Tony Montana…
We have a genius in our midst. Fact!
*stands back and applauds LeG*
Holic, I hope the launch is a smashing success and I wish everyone attending the Tollie do a great night.
LeG: you keep telling it like it is, and that’s a fact – in my opinion!
Thanks Lars. Glad you were able to sort your booking for dirty Leeds.
Does the same as Zico, i stand and applaud you LeG ๐
“SO RESERVES โ be as good as the first team, then you get to be in the first team, and the next time the manager decides to send out the reserves they wonโt be the reserves at all, theyโll be the fukkinโ first team. Problemo solvedo โ SIMPLES! AND that way thereโll be no more nights like last night AND everybodyโs happy chappies! Sorted!”
That section has made my day, although LeG, how DO you ‘coat’ the Arsenal? ๐
Lars, BM officials have already said they’ll field a very strong team so that City will get eliminated so they’ll avoid meeting them in the latter stages of the knockout phase.
Smart decision if you ask me.
Afternoon all,
I haven’t posted much lately (I hear a chorus of ‘so what’) but I did say to my 3 teenage gooner sons last night as the teams were announced that either Santos or TV5 was going to suffer a certain injury.
Madness is correct, selecting our only left back and a potent attacker down that side too in a meaningless fixture when we’ve won thr group defies belief.
On a more positive note I’m going to the book launch tonight and really looking forward to meeting lots of like minded souls.
LeG Rash just like you say it leg rash it’s definitely a disease – Fact!
Have fun at The Tolly under that first brolly everyone that is attending tonight.
Work is dragging now – Fact!
zico & LeG Rash – Thanks for maintaining and raising the nutboy quotient here in the bar. Keep those posts coming. Reading ‘The Diaries’ helps me to keep up with what I’m doing ๐
Dr.z @ #154 – ‘A John Daniels is preferred’ etc., etc.
Footballing Gods @ #137 – I offer you the sacrifical John Terry daubed in Lennie blood to appease you and to make the right results happen. A thumping home win on Saturday would be nice too. What’s that? Bring you the head of Gareth Bale? I’ll fetch my sword, sack and mirror…
Lars @ #158 & Joe @ #141 – Cheers and we’ll do our best to have fun without John Daniels, Captain Morgan or Comrade Smirnoff.
Drinks and sacrificial football players are on the bar for all ๐
Heh TS,
Just tell Edwin to keep the chopper (ooh err) on standby.
Footballing Gods was us, btw ๐
Have a great night out, fellow ‘holics attending the book launch, tonight. On the spot reports would be most welcome, preferably here in the bar as I don’t/won’t do twitter.
I too am glad you sorted out your Dirty Leeds business, Lars and I will join you in a heavy chant of “ESPN, are total cuntbuckets”. (to da choon of 1-0 to Ar-se-nal).
Shaft keeps them comming, the Z files will never stop and that Leg Rash is spreading causing a nasty case of the chuckles.
Drinky from me to the patrons of the best bar on the web.
Snir, I could have sworn that I read that they were going to rest their start, but I might of course have got that confused with some other team in my memory. And I certainly agree, the best way for them to eliminate City is to nick a point off them tonight.
zico and others interested: ticket info have now been put up on .com for the Leeds game, it goes on sale for Silver Members on Monday and Red Members on Wednesday at 10am UK time.
TS@164: what, fun without none of those? Are you intending to stay sober the whole evening? ๐
H2H: heh, that was a great chant! Come on now, everybody: “ESPN, are total cuntbuckets!”
Good luck with Book Launch
Re last night – for me this proves that AW has not done rotation of his team sufficiently – yes the reserves know how he wants them to play, but the training ground is clearly not enough to allow them to function as a unit
If the reserves got the last 20 minutes of a ‘won’ match …. ( but the first team are not delivering enough of those – doh!)
So ESPN says the statues are Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry?
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2011/12/07/144110_arsenal-une-statue-pour-henry.html
A bit weird. Unless many more statues are planned shortly.
Ollie, I’m sure there are more coming.
So, the FBI is investigating FIFA corruption.
This could get interesting…
http://t.co/BHsD8a10
Santos confirms on Twitter his injury will keep him out for three weeks.
God, what a stupid decision!
On his Twitter of course.
Yes, he should never have signed up for twitter. Stoopid indeed.
Heh, Ollie.
Ollie, you’re sharp today ๐
Yeah, I’ll try not to cut myself ๐
Yeah what was Arsene thinking? He could have taken him off at half time too
Bah, Ollie ๐
This is the link for the Arseblog book which I don’t think has been put up anywhere .
And go on the 4 b’s
Bale ,Basel,Bazel and Bayern
whoops, I forgot something
http://store.arseblog.com/product_info.php?products_id=51
Allez Lille!
Ollie
You have to be really careful in that case ๐
Ollie,with you for Lille?The North deserves good quality foot ball and Lille still produce it despite losing many players(Gervinho etc) after their ligue win.
1-0 Basel…
heh, yeah Arthur.
And indeed, wuif. I rate Garcia very highly.
Drinks for Lars, washed up and Arthur!
Basel is one nil up!
Thanks for the drink Ollie next round is on me!
city 1 up good strike by Silva
Benfica 1-0 up!
Looking good oh City have scored… ๐
I gather Bayern’s line-up is rather second string after all?
Looks that way Ollie it all depends on Napoli really and how much they want it!
Easy guys, they have Ribery and Gomez on the bench, lets not jump the gun yet eh? ๐
Quoted from BBC:
“029: Manchester United’s evening is going from bad to worse as captain Nemanja Vidic twists his right knee while tussling with Basel goalscorer Marco Streller. The Serbian screams in pain as he goes to ground and immediately signals to be replaced. It looks to be a bad one and he is stretchered off to be replaced by Jonny Evans.”
All we need now is Rooney to lose his rag and get sent off
Bayern looks as flat as we did yesterday!
Yaya scores for Shiteh! 2:0
Adult-oriented approach to the double century?
and Clichy still cant fucking cross!
Definitely 8 ball…..come on and join us!
Arthur, remember about the self assisting rule …
Bang!
Shoots…
Ah, zico got a foot in to deflect it away from the goalie and into the net – well played, Sir!
napoli SI SI
Napoli scores!
Fuck. I can see Lyon qualifying if this carries on.
And Lille might end as a frustrating 0-0 draw whereas they’re really on top.
I fear a shit shit week of CL football as I said yesterday.
No doubt United and probably City will qualify then.
Well done, Dr Z, that was not a damp squid.
Did Lars shoot at the ball that was already INSIDE the net? ๐
And she takes a shot ……..she scores!!!!!!! Napoli one up!
Haaaaaaaaaaaa, nice one, thanks for the news Lars.
I’ll remove the bit that said ‘probably City’ ๐
ollie, what’s up with Lyon? 3 goals in 3 minutes i think, 1-4, I’m in awe, Gomis hat-trick.
Ahh dammit, I was out of sync for the attack, missed it completely! ๐
Lovely finish Zico! ๐
And Napoli are 1-0 up!
Well in Napoli and Basel, keep up the pace!
Fuck, as it stands, Lyon now qualify.
Betting syndicates cunts ๐
Well in, zico. Arthur, 3 out of 4 is OK if you’re going for the century. At least the last time I checked …
Ollie, now that you mention it, it was more a case of “I took a swipe but it became an air-kick since zico had already guided it in” ๐
What’s up, Wind?
Lyon are cunts, their president is a ginormous cunt (and his head will explode when they go through), and frankly, I’d rather play Ajax in the next round ๐ – we’ll get Zenit and you know it…
If Lille don’t score (you know Man U will), I’m going on strike.
Ha! Good analogy, Lars! ๐
SECOND GOAL FOR nAPOLI
Two for Napoli – how do you like them apples, Nasri?
Napoli 2 nil up!
Villarreal 0 Napoli 2
That’s Man City most likely gone, then.
Napoli 2-0 up! ‘tears of joy’
Basel 1-0 up ‘laughing inside so hard’
Ollie, they’re now 6-1 up, no, make that 2nd, going through on head to head, nope, 2 goals to Ajax’s 1 right now on Goal Difference.
Didn’t see the Vidic injury, but I have been told it looked really bad. If he is out long-term, then I seriously think that ManU will struggle to finish in the top four. They are a completely different team with him.
And we are now ten minutes away from a monumental Mancunian fiasco. Still think ManU will somehow manage an equalizer, though.
2-0 BASEL!!!
Out of absolutely nothing, Basel go two up!
Basel 2:0 Ha hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
City vs. United on Thursdays!!!!
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, this is better than sex… I can’t stop laughing, everybody is looking at me at the school cafeteria!!!
Lars too late for that now!
Man Indebted losing 2-0
Snir you dirty focker hahahaha ๐
What on fuck is going on in Manchester tonight then? ๐
Have to say I am very impressed by Basel. Only seen the second half but they have been extremely well organized and have, generally, not dropped too deep to allow ManU to get too close to the goal.
Manchester = crisis!
There is nothing I want more than to get Basel in the knockout round.
Show United how to do it…
Wow… I can’t stop laughing… I’m definitely gonna watch this game again.
Gloating is one of life’s best things.
Dear doomers from last nights drinks,
Finishing top in our group doesn’t look so bad now, does it?
2-1 now… this isn’t over!
Oh no. Here it comes.
Fergie time.
I have a nasty feeling that the second one is going to come as well for ManU…
GAME OVER – MANU ELIMINATED!
FT. ๐
Ho, ho, ho, Ferguson’s face is a picture.
Up yours!
Manchester playing thursday night Euro trash for the rest of the season! ๐
Too right Joshua
Basel players are having a swinging party on pitch ๐
As anyone from Manchester will tell you Thursday nights are the new Tue/Wed nights.
Much better than sex.
Ohhhh life is good.
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
Nothing like gloating !!!
LMAO!!!!
Say “cheese” Manchester! ….CLICK!
ROFL… At least 2/3rd of my dream Europa League line-up came through:) Loving it…
And to top that Spurs are on the verge of being knocked out of Europa. How disappointing. Would have been fun to watch the 4 teams I detest the most fighting out on Thursday evenings. Oh well, will take 3 teams then. Stoke, Mans City and U… ๐
All that money spent in Manchester and they both crash out, I can’t help but feeling really, really happy about that. Schadenfreude is, I believe, an apt expression here ๐
(I try not to bother about other teams too much but sometimes I fail miserably. Tonight is one of those nights. BWAHAAHAAAHAAA!!!)
I’m loving every minute of this.
And this puts last night’s result into perspective.
There is nothing I want more than to draw Basel.
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
That’s a pretty strong line-up we can come up against in the second round. Oh well, no easy matches in the Champs League knockouts I guess. As long as we avoid Milan…. Now that I have said that.. :/
London 2 Manchester 0.!!
Lovely Jubbly.
Oh What A Night,
Frankie and the 4 Seasons,come on Down.!!
When will those northern clubs learn it takes steel if you wan’t to win anything …
I’m going on strike.
A happy one because of the Mancs results though, especially if we get Basel.
but a trip to Lille or a trip to Moscow?
a trip to Amsterdam or a trip to Lyon?
Can’t remember a CL with so much drama on match day 6. Great stuff.
Snir @ 248
Careful what you wish for.
Basel impressed me tonight,
Are they the first Swiss side to qualify for the knockout stages.??
Along with Nicosia,it’s a triumph for the little guys.
Good on them both.
Clive – to be honest I’m not scared of any team apart from Milan.
Re: Clive @250, Are Chelsea a London club?? ๐
Spare a though for the barman, in this circumstances, having to stay sober in the Tollington ๐
Oh what a night…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3RqEl9s6NI&feature=related
Up the Arse!
BMBD!
Ollie, didn’t even think about that… guess the party at the Tolli really must be in full swing now!
Well, goodnight folks, I think I’m the only rather disappointed person in this bar.
Guess it’s because I’m this side of the Channel, and that there was theoretically far more chance of Lille qualifying than Lyon (and Marseille at some stage), whereas the Red Mancs defeats is the only big surprise on the other side.
Heh, Ollie @ 257…
Carousing with top-notch company men (and ladies); Mancs and Mercs – out; and supporting the finest team anyone’s ever seen… and trying to stay sober —
That IS tough duty ๐
BMBD!
I’ve decided to put a very negative spin on tonight:
Only 2 clubs through means the day we’ll need to finish 3rd rather than 4th to qualify is getting nearer ๐
C’mon Ollie –
Let’s allow LeG Rash the honor of bring our feet back onto the ground. ๐
BMBD!
Snir
I don’t think we need to worry about them either.
Our record against Italian clubs in Europe is 2nd to none.
8Ball,
Sorry should have qualified that,London via Moscow.!!!
heh, LEg Rash : we can’t even compete with the best clubs in the Europa League!
Just woke up here.
YESSSSSSSSSS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA!
That is all.
Heh, Ollie.
BMBD!
Holic, a pleasure to finally meet you and the management in the Tollie tonight – I realise you are probably still there! Am on the train home from a grat evening with the Arse Community. A privilege to be associated. Thanks for the recommendation for El Molino. Had a fine meal. You may find me in there of the occasional match day mealtime now. Cheers mate.
United are red, City are blue, they both outspent us, but The Arsenal go through.
Quick post;
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
*deep breath*
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA A HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ……ahem.
I can now imagine Rooney muttering a lot of ‘Fuck off’ s at his hearing now.
It won’t help and his international ban won’t be reduced.
No team that has played in the CL Final the previous year,has ever been knocked out at the Group stage,
Take a Bow Man Utd.!!
Someone said there were ridiculous decisions in the Ajax vs Real game.
Well I guess there was no point in buying Zagreb vs Lyon without buying also that game indeed.
Tonight feels like victory night. The whole of Manchester must be weeping, wanna bet on the torrents of hate towards Rednose tomorrow? He’s lost it, time for change, you won’t win anything with kids etc. Their biggest cunt has given the signal:
“People have talked about the young players, everybody building them up but they’ve got a lot to do, it’s a reality check for some. I’d be getting hold of some of those lads, saying ‘you’d better buck up your ideas’. United got what they deserved tonight.” – Roy Kunt
Danish and cohorts must be rubbing their hands with glee, readying themselves to howl with the wolves.
As to Mancini, credit to him he didn’t lose his sense of humor: “We got the hardest group”
Let’s see:
Villareal: 4th in Spain
Bayern: 2nd in Germany
Napoli: 3rd in Italy
Arsenal had such an easier group!
Dortmund: german champion
Marseille: french champion
Olympiakos: greek champion
That’ll teach him not to promise his mercenaries a big enough bonus. What does he think, that they came to Citeh to win titles for the sheikh?
@ 270
Jesus H to H Christ.!!
That’s an awful lot of HA’s.!!
But justified in the circumstances.
Do you think Nasri signed with the city because of the bonus for winning the UCL ?
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
@272: Heh, Clive ๐
Matt
excellent post mate.
Toughest group indeed.!!
They’re shit and they know they are,
They’re shit and they know they are (repeat ad infinitum)
How much you want to bet those “gooners” who only show up after losses (all Manc fans of course) are too busy crying to show up in this bar tonight?
Cannons
How’s it hanging,??
Red Nose has ignored the media,no post match interview so far.
Wonder why.
God I feel good tonight. ๐
Matt. Marseille French Champions?
Not last season….
Marseille or Lyon will get Apoel Nicosie.
I’m even more gutted now.
Just out of curiosity I glanced at a MU blog and after tonight they sound exactly like LeGrash. Ferguson out! We need to spend a massive amount of money on world class players in order to win anything!
One of the fastest centuries ever?? How many ways can Manchester lose? Let me count the ways …
Just one question
What did that French lesbian expect leaving a great club like the Arsenlage for money?
Oh well son another lesson learnt
So these are our possible opponents for the CL last 16:
AC Milan
Bayer Leverkusen
CSKA Moscow
FC Basel
Lyon
Napoli
Zenit St. Petersberg
No easy games there, but equally nothing not winnable, at least by adults that don’t need a spanking.
Zico
I thought you were FEELGOOD every night.???
Some would say the picture of Ferguson after the game looks like death warmed over, but I beg to differ. Worse!!!
Haven’t seen the picture 8ball. Did his nose turn a normal color or something?
One thing about the Mancs. It shows how much they rely on one moment of brilliance from Rooney, Nani or the ref to win them games. Otherwise they look a bit ordinary.
Starts to play it out from the back….
Anyway let’s get the buildup started. The keeper rolls the ball out to him. He turns to find himself in so much space it looks like a Manchester bar on a Tuesday or Wednesday night in February. Takes his time and rolls it out to the wing.
A sloppy one-two in midfield but retains possession….
Still looking for someone to take the pass…
Bearded, Note the white as a sheet skin color. I can’t find a persistent link but if you go to the BBC Football page right now it is the first image that should pop up before it goes through some others.
Thanks 8ball. Makes himself available top of the box with his back to goal.
bt8b not paying attention but deflects the ball on….
Re: NBN @292: Normally the one moment of brilliance from the ref, if you ask me. ๐
Ref assisted??? I don’t mind a yellow card for the celebration on this one. ***takes his shirt off and shows his tits***
heh Clive, I knew you would get it ๐
Feelgood has gone for a lie down. Too much excitement lately.
Well in bt8b@300. Will have to try this not paying attention. Seems to work.
You could bet your bottom dollar that there would have been enough time added on this evening for the Mancs to score if that game had been at OT.
Zico
i have to compliment you on the recent Feelgood files,
Absolutely brilliant.
I Doffs Me Cap,and Dips Me Lid.!!
Mrs Dale’s Diaries are currently with my high powered Legal Team.
i will update you soonest.
Regards
The Sweeper.
Can I smell another century around the corner?
No it’s a whining stench coming from the north!
273 Ollie.
Here in the bar we watched Ajax v Real.
A lot of pissed off Ajax fans here. No time to get into at the mo’, but Ajax were robbed. 2 perfectly good goals in the first half disallowed
CoR @ 280 Hey!
Cheers Clive,
large OJ on the bar – and a couple of nips (heh) for your dwarves.
Nice comments Matt – agree entirely.
Don’t know what was funnier, Fergusons shellshocked pout in realisation that his team needs a complete overhaul while he was slumped in the dugout amidst the Basle celebrations – or Liam Brady’s reaction to Mancini who, in excusing citeh’s performance as being “unlucky” when he claimed that “10 points normally see you through the group stages”, Brady went on to dissect that by claiming firstly, that Villa Real were a shadow of their former selves and ended up with no points in the group – so that in effect accounted for 6 of Man City’s total points and secondly, for a team that has spent so much money to finish behind a team like Napoli was a complete disgrace and could never be excused.
IH2H : I watched the Ajax highlights and your right – they were robbed of two legitimate goals by stupid offside calls.
Zico @ 145: I respect that point of view about Santos (ie that he should have been rested). I do however think we’ve other options at full back: Djourou, Kos, Miguel, Kos. Furthermore, while Santos has been playing regularly since Gibbs injury – I am far from convinced he is defensively sound, despite his undoubted ability going forward. Personally I would prefer to see more agile and pacy fullbacks against players like Silva and Nasri.
So let me get this straight…we’re a club in crisis, may get relegated, sack the manager, and everything LeG said……but were not playing on Thursday nights are we? Not that we are in the title race, but things just got more interesting given that Manure and Oil City will have in most cases two days rest between the forthcoming Thursday games (ha!) and the weekend games…..hmmmm.
I bet the Glazer’s had that CL money spent already.
See, it only took 24 hours for me to get last night’s game out of my system….okay I still pissed about Santos.
Heads Up Gooners!!!!
Sorry Zico – Djourou, Kos, Miguel and Coq even…….
Well, well, oil-well – what a night – in more ways than 2 or 3 … do bare with me ‘holics – if you can be bothered.
AND if much of the following resembles fact – then I may have fluked it …
The last time – before this time – i asked for an autograph was in 1978 or 1979 – i think. It was my birthday and my mum’s brother – my uncle George – was coming back from Finland. He’d been out there for 3 or 4 years having married a beautiful Finnish gal – my Auntie Kirsi.
Anyway, I was given the morning off school to go to Luton airport, with my Nanny Laurie, to go and meet and greet the returning prodigal son – and his newish Mrs.
So me and my nan were waiting in the airport lobby when she prods me and says, in her sweet Yorkshire burr ( she’s from dirty Leeds – having hooked up with my resolutely South London Grandad in the WW2 forces) –
‘Look at that funny coach with the fancy lampshades and tables.’ This was the 70’s young’uns – so that qualified as eye-catching. I looked up and went –
‘Nan, that’s Liam Brady – the king of Highbury – my hero’. She immediately delved into her hand-bag, found her cheque book and ripped the back off it and gave it to me with a pen – as I formed, a breathless, one boy welcoming committee in the airport lobby for the coach disembarking Arsenal team who were on their way to play Magdeburg – i think – in the return leg of the EUFA cup. And I’d been at Highbury, cheering them on, for the first leg. I greedily nabbed the autographs of big Pat Jennings, David O’leary ( i think ) and of course Liam ‘Chippy’ Brady.
“I’ll see you Saturday at Crystal Palace – Liam” I said
“Alright son – will do” he said sweetly, as he walked off to check in – with his black leather bag slung over his shoulder.
Later that day I went back excitedly to my central London secondary school. But me and my mates weren’t interested in the blue light-up Casio digital watch I’d got for my birthday, we just pored over my mighty Arse autographs – and I went over the details of their capture, as they listened in star-struck awe, again and again and again and again.
So anyway – tonight I popped along to the Tollie – and what a turn out. I held back until quite late – due to the queues, and carried on drinking. After i snaffled one of Arseblog’s books. Then I Found out where ‘holic was and – for only the second time in my life – asked for an autograph, and congratulated your man on his superfine blog. Sorry ‘holic, URED – faced fellow – i imagine – if you’re reading this…but he was the classy gentleman i’m sure those of you that haven’t met him imagine he is – and those of you that have met him – know he is. I was short and hopefully sweetish – but long enough to be introduced to ‘the management’ – who was, of course, easily as charming as The Guv’nor. Then I headed off home – a fairly chuffed chappy – with a, more than usually Wednesday night, spring in my step – having also clocked the Manc champs league collapse.
A great Arse night indeedee! I’m looking forward to reading my new book and searching out the back of that cheque book – that I’m almost sure someone’s got somewhere – hopefully.
PSED. Also some of the finest contributors (and at this bar that’s a long list) have said some extraordinarily nice things on here – this mighty, mighty Arsenal site – re some things I, or someone I may know, may have posted. What I have to say to that is – if i’ve/he’s come halfway close to getting any where near emulating many of the top-o-the-shop contributions that appear on here with unnatural regularity – then i’m/he got very lucky. And I got lucky to find this bar AND am lucky to be allowed to rattle on like what I do.
Oh gawd – a combination of a mighty Arse night and a decent drop of the good stuff – duth make a fellow a little loose of lip. But, every now and then – that can be good for the spirit – which reminds me – barman make mine a large one, please. Cheers!
EEWWW To Be Ah GoonAH!
It may have been 1980 – UREDS!
Nasri!
Hey Nasri!!
Did you enjoy the Champions League Football then?
Hahahaha! ๐
Very nice AL, I’m sure the barman will be well chuffed to be used in such an excellent analogy relating to the legend that is Liam Brady ๐
But I’d like to know, how did your Auntie Kirsi and Uncle George visit get on after their return from Finland?
Are you serious? Laughs, gets up and leaves…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15853955.stm
They’ve lived more-or-less happily ever after in the E and C area of South London – which is more-or-less your manor i believe master Wind
Cheers for the write up AL. Wish I could have been there, but I couldn’t find any flights for 50p.
Matt, ๐
Joe@ 309: Miguel is more than capable of playing against Everton at left back.
Gedo@310. More syphoned off than spent, me thinks.
Matt@316: ๐
AL, thank you, and all who came tonight. it was a really magical event. I met some fabulous people, and some fabulous ‘holics. Humbling doesn’t cover it.
Basel brush MancU aside – Boom, boom!
Lollll it’s still funny!
Half a mo folks. Before we all start to gloat – na$ri may yet get to play in the carling cup final for the second year running – if his team get through and IF his new manager picks him. So think about that for a moment before you – piss yourselves laughing.
Ps – the pleasure was mine ‘holic
among others
AL: You are a star of the screen. ๐
https://p.twimg.com/AgGP6NjCIAA3JjF.jpg
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
@281: Nearly everything’s fine Clive. Made it to work finally, a bit rainy here among other things but this Mancunian Spectacle has made my day!
@307: Hi Abb! How goes it? When are your friends joining the illustrious bar?
@312: I’m jealous man. The only thing I have is a hand-me-down set of postcards signed by the Double Winning team of ’71…
London 2 Manchester 0 = Pints of London Pride for everyone!
Re: Snir’s link at 327: If that idiot was idiotic enough to get that tattoo I assume he was also idiotic enough to bet everything he owned on Man City to win the champions league. Chalk that one up in the expensive lessons column, I suppose.
OK – Now let’s get serious for a sec.
Who do you want in the knockout?
You know what I mean by want so don’t be all like “every team is tough bla bla bla.”
Basel (LOL)
Milan
Napoli
CSKA
Lyon
Leverkusen
Zenit
I have to say the only one I’d want to avoid would be Zenit ’cause we’re not great in Eastern Europe.
275 Clive, Heh at “H to H Christ”.
Many a ha ha indeed, not half as many as I let out while watching the Manc’s games highlights though.
Stilll pretty gutted for Ajax and all my Dutch mates, but rather them then us, eh? At least they mat get a chance to play Citeh and United, that can’t be bad. ๐
===
Nice story AL
Glad you and ‘holic enjoyed the night.
327 Snir.
I’m thinking of sending that photo to the people who make dictionarys so they can put it beside the word; FAIL.
330 (Snir again)
By that logic, you should also want us to avoid CSKA, they’re the ones from Moscow, not the one’s from the bus stop in Fulham ๐
Leverkusen or Napoli for me.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2011/dec/07/champions-league-manchester-united-city#/?picture=382982873&index=7
I’m not really bothered who we get in the next round, if you want to get to the final you just have to beat the team in front of you.
Bring ’em on!!
Oh my god , what a beautiful morning…
God how i regret now that i did not go to sleep last night thinking that manu were a definite. shite.. got to download the match asap..
A a hearty big screw you to Na$ri too. the greedy cunt.. Hope he gets shawcrossed on a thursday night..
Cant get enough of this..
A club in crisis .. Must be one in machester…
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
COYG
Definitely want Basel for the next round… They are a proper footballing team and wont park the proverbial bus.. I fancy we will win that easy…
Not to mention showing the purple nose how it is done.
This just gets better and better.
http://i.imgur.com/9QBBJ.jpg
H2H – You’re right, forgot it’s CSKA MOSCOW and not just CSKA ๐
Can’t wait for the draw.
Mainly because it would set my trip dates as I’ll know where the hub of the trip will be.
Ok, on an even more serious note.
Does anyone know if the unveiling of the statues is gonna be televised somewhere?
Scene: Sheik Mansour’s Plush Offices somewhere in the United Arab Emirates: Roberto Mancini has returned his call..
SM: Ha, Ha, Roberto I tried to call you earlier but I guess you were celebrating with the boys eh? Great result tonight eh?
RM: Eh?
SM: How many did we get in the end?
RM: Duo..I mean two sir..
SM: Yeeesss!! We are going to win the cup..la la (not exactly melodious)
RM: But sir..erm..
SM: (cuts in) But who can stop us now….I mean if we can beat the Germans. Who can stop us now?
RM: Well I am a little weary of United sir..
SM: Fuck United! Its our name that’s on the cup I tell you Roberto..
RM: Well I am glad that you are so happy …considering..
SM: (cuts in again) I had a meeting so I couldn’t see the end of the game. We were 2-0 up and those cheating ingrates Napoli were scoreless in Spain. Now tell me in detail Roberto…what did I miss? Roberto? Roberto?
———————————————————————-
SM: (shouting out the door to his assistant) Abdul, Abdul..this fucking phone has gone dead. WTF…can’t I get a decent phone in this fucking place? Get Mancini back on the line. And turn on that fucking television, I want to see the sports report on Fox..
lol@341!
The Sheik is in for a big surprise…Total Recall style ๐
What a brilliant night! Fuck off you manc cunts
Snir, anyone other than Milan and Napoli for me.
Oh and AL, nice post ๐
Athena Olive Oil Soap Factory, Crete. Michelle Platini opens his eyes and realizes he is tied to a chair in the middle of a factory. The smell of olive oil is everywhere and stifling. He looks around and sees Thierry Henry fiddling with the controls of a huge vat. He then hears a gravelly voice from behind him.
Shaft: Morning sleepy-head.
Platini: Shaft, you son-of-a-bitch, what the hell you think youโre doing?
Shaft: Youโre here to see the error of your ways. Youโve made a long enough rope, shoulda known you would hang yourself with it eventually.
Platini: What are you talking about? Whoโs behind this?
Shaft: You know whoโs behind thisโฆ
Shaft pulls open his black leather jacket and we see a gold badge with a cannon and the words โEqualizerโ written on it.
Platini: Youโre out of your mind! He wouldnโt dareโฆyou think IโฆH-HEโS JUST A F**KING MANAGER!
Shaft: Shhhh, youโre the chief lackey for the most corrupt man in the world of football and youโre trying to lick his ass into power. But we all know you have the potential to be much, much worse. Financial Fair Play is a farce. It was designed to fail from the very beginning.
Shaft takes out a cigar and lights it before continuing.
Shaft: Video technology works, but of course, if you let it get implemented you lose the ability to provide โsure-winsโ for your pet teams. Champions League is f**ked because of you. Itโs more predictable than WWE. Besides all that, you brought this on yourself when you insulted the Boss years earlier in Paris. Now, weโre going to help you clean up your actโฆ
Shaft starts dragging the chair with Platini in it over to the vat where Henryโs standing.
Platini: Shaft, pleaseโฆ.Shaft, come onโฆwait, in my wallet, my walletโฆthereโs something for you in itโฆ
Shaft: You better not be f**king with meโฆ
Platini: Open itโฆwhateverโs in it is yours mon amiโฆopen itโฆgo on, open itโฆ
Shaft puts the chair down and removes Platiniโs wallet from his back pocket. He opens the wallet and sees a photo of Susan Boyle. Shaft slumps to the floor trembling.
Shaft: Goddamnโฆ.
Platini: I kept that just in caseโฆitโs your kryptonite isnโt it? Fuglyโฆ.
Platini wriggles out of the ropes and leaps out of the chair running for the door.
Henry: HEY! What the deuce! Shaft!
Platini swings open the rusty factory door and darts outside. Behind him, Henry slips on a puddle of olive oil and hits the floor. Platini sees a black van about 10 yards away to his left. He dashes towards it, opens the unlocked door and sits in the driverโs seat. He is about to turn the key in the ignition when he feels a sharp burst of pain from the back of his neck. The smell of singed flesh enters his nostrils as he slumps over the steering wheel unconscious. Honey Bottom steps out of the backdoor of the van holding a taser and walks to the front seat window.
Honey Bottom: Iโm shocked you made it all the way here. A real electrifying turn of eventsโฆ
Shaft: Damn woman, you corny as hell. Letโs get him back inside.
Shaft and Henry drag the unconscious body back inside followed by Honey Bottom. They attach a factory hook to the ropes binding Platiniโs arms to his body and raise him up above the huge vat which contains lye heated to 300 degrees. They start lowering him slowly into the vat. As his feet touch the hot lye, he wakes up screaming. He screams until he is knee deep in the lye and then passes out from the trauma of having his feet dissolved. The factory is eerily silent three hours later as he is completely submerged and dissolved completely.
Shaft: Dench motherf**ker.
Fugly, heh. ๐
“More predicatable than WWE” Heh ๐
Everything seems to be registering in Italics?
Joe @ 309 – so what you are saying is that if Santos had not got injured you would not have played him against Man City because he is not defensively sound?
How many in this bar do you think would have wanted a centre back or midfielder playing at left back at Eastlands before City got injured?
The balance of the team has been better this season – Santos is part of that and compensates for any defensive frailty with what he offers going forward – something his predecessor couldn’t do.
You can dress it up all you want, but Santos on Wednesday night was the most incomprehensible decision of the season (so far).
Before city = Before Santos
Italics r Us
AL @312
Nice post.
Hope you bought the Guvnor an orange juice?
Seducing other teams’ players and distorting the transfer market: 191 million loss
Largest income revenue in world football: 334 million
Playing your European football on a Thursday: Fucking. Priceless
Heh, Shaft left the italics on like a noob using text formatting for the first time ๐
In hindsight, selecting Santos was definitely not the best ideaโฆbut then again hindsight also told me that I shouldnโt have tried to lift up that 300 pounder last night. Still in traction at the momentโฆ ๐
@352: ๐ Nice one
(makes an attempt to get the italics out of the way with some hopefully clever html – alright, I try to insert a closing tag!)
AL@312: a great post, loved the Brady autograph bit!
Wind@315: hadn’t seen that before, what an unbelievably smug twat – and, may I say, cleary struggling (yes, you are STRUGGLING, Sir Moanalot) to cope with the pressure. A brilliant manager, but also a disrespectful and megalomanical bully who can not handle any sort of criticism at all. It really is funny how Arsene Wenger, who has to my knowledge never ever walked out of a press conference, who has never boycotted any media outlets, who always gives full answers to any question, has been labelled a “whinging foreginer” when that rednosed see you next Tuesday does nothing but whine whenever anything goes even remotely wrong for his team.
Eagerly awaiting more reports from the Tollie, come on everybody – spill the beans! ๐
Thanks CoR
Share a coffee with me? ๐
Shaft is really going to a dark place in the latest epsode. Excellent stuff.
And, finally, on top of the mirth of last night, a bit of back drinking has revealed the identity of LeG Rash. I salute you, sir.
Nope, the italics closer did not work, it seems!
Heh it’s all italics. I thought that sort of things only happened on the arses.
H2H and Joe, thanks for confirming. i was too pissed off with the possible Lyon wankfest so didn’t watch any highlights.
Guess Aulas got a few tips from Tapie.
AL @ 317, Yes my good man, you are indeed right although as of late I tend to use my manor in the P, C and OKR triangle most as of late ๐
GoonerTerry @ 341, heh! ๐
Shaft @ 344, heh heh! Dench motherf**ker. ๐
And the traction!
Ta for the kind ones gents – it was a fine night. And Zico, to my great shame, i didn’t buy the Guv’nor or the management – a snifter of any sort.
In my defence it was all a bit Willy Wonkas in the Tollie and i grabbed a brief chat, gave yer man my book to sign and got on my bike. Hopefully i’ll be able to put right the drink faux pas at some later date
And Wind i know well the triangle of which you speak.Have lost a night or two down that way in times gone past
AL @ 361, good times in that triangle eh? ๐
Exclusive interview at Manchester Airport,
Early hours Thursday Morning.
Transcript,
Reporter,” Morning Sir Alex,your thoughts on the match ”
Sir Alex, ” Fecking Ref’s a big fecking Jobby. ”
Reporter, ” Any comments on the match ”
Sir Alex, ” Fecking Linesmen,pair of big fecking Jobbies.”
Reporter, “What did you think of the 2 goals you conceded.”
Sir Alex, ” Both fecking goals were offside from where i was sitting.”
Reporter, ” Was you defence to blame.”
Sir Alex,” fecking Pitch was like a big pile of fecking Jobbies.”
Reporter, ” What do you think of your team’s overall perfomance.”
Sir Alex, Fecking home supporters,frightened my players with all their fecking screaming and shouting,don’t they fecking realise we are
Man Utd,best team in the fecking world,showed us no fecking respect,
most teams normally lie down and let us fecking walk all over them.”
Fecking Cuckoo Clock making fecking cunts.”
Reporter,” When you scored your late goal,did you think you could still get another one.”
Sir Alex,” fecking ref,by my watch there was at least 10 minutes added time,big pile of Jobbies only played 3.!!!
Doesn’t he know we are the best team in the fecking world,no fecking respect.”
Reporter,” Where to now for Utd Sir Alex.”
Sir Alex,” How the feck should i know.”
Stomps off into the night.
Transcript ends.
You can put it right on Saturday AL.
And while you’re at it, mines a guinness! ๐
Can someone sort out these feckin italics, it’s making me feel drunk.
OK, drunker than usual.
PS @ Lars 355 – he has been like that since his days at St Mirren. He is a c**t.
About Santos!
For me I do not doubt that we have cover at left back for Sarurday, but…
1) with a game to spare and crucial game on sat coming up TV5 and Santos should have been rested
2) At present, he is the one who has gelled more with the first team in that position. But saying that, Miguel has been competent at left back, so would have been a better option on Wednesday than Saturday. However the squad are more than competent of winning on Saturday regardless.
Here ‘s to a Manchester-less remainder of the champions League campaign. We need to eliminate every team we play to win the trophy, no matter who they are!
Have a Goonerholic day all!
Consider it done Zico – on both counts
Great shame re the slightly bonkas Brazilian. Was really looking forward to seeing him on Saturday. I’ve seen a few Arse/Everton encounters live in recent times and in my shaky memory we’ve often struggled as – Hugh Laurie’s muppet baby (someone else’s line about someone else, i think) – Moyes usually sets his boys in blue up to make it v difficult for us to break them down. Santos would have been a fantastic asset under those circs
Oh well, we’ll have to find other ways to win. Wonder how the Evertonians ‘ll be with our man Artetetetaaaaa!?
Zico,
My opinion on Santos is not the conventional one at this bar – and Im prepared to completely accept that. So in answering your questions:
No I would not play him against Citeh. The prospect of Silva, Johnson, Nasri et al running at him scares the life out of me to be honest. If we were to play Barcelona in the morning – I wouldn’t be putting Mertesacker up against Messi either. I’d be inclined to opt for Kos instead.
Kos has already played on both flanks this season to a most competent effect; Miguel has also played at Full back this season and he’s already played against Citeh where he had a fine game at full back if my memory serves me correctly; Djourou regularly slots in to cover at full back on the right side (although its fair to say that he too has been far from convincing from a defensive perspective this season IMO); and finally Coquelin, who has also played at full back in the past but has been playing well in midfield this season. The prospect of Wenger putting a midfielder back into full back wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest – he done it many times in the past to great effect ala Flamini and Lauren. All I’m saying is that there are plenty of options and I’m sure Wenger would have considered that when he played Santos in the first place.
Can you compensate for defensive frailty by offering a better solution going forward – yes, I think teams like Brazil and Barcelona would certainly offer a case for supporting that point. However to my mind, over the past 6/7 years, the Fabregas era produced some truly wonderful attacking football – but we were undone by defensive frailty and indiscipline. Neither Brazil nor Barca play in the EPL – where defensive discipline is a prerequisite for any form of success as its such a competitive league.
Gibbs was first choice until he got injured. Then Santos got his chance. Now that Santos is injured – its not a crisis. We do have other options. Maybe Kos, or young Miguel or Coq might be given a chance now (and I think they’ve earned it!). This defense is evolving continuously so it will be interesting to see who he will play.
Ok guys, please.
It’s Miquel, not Miguel.
I don’t know why but it bothers the shit out of me to see his name messed up.
go on ๐
Been playing a bit of catch up – and find i’m mighty pleased to see all aboard the majestic HT gearing up for special occasions to come – Woo Wooo!
Joe – a couple of things.
Coq only played RB at Stoke in the FA cup in 09-10 and had a bad afternoon. He wasn’t comfortable there according to both him and AW.
As for Miquel, he can do a job, but will need a whole lot of help from Song and Gervinho, which would also mean that it would harm our counter attacking threat as Gervinho will have to start from deeper up the pitch.
In addition, his attacking skills are limited which may lead to him staying in the middle third when we’re attacking, this will lead to a 2v1 on Gervinho out on the wing, with the left winger and Richards trying to win possession off Gervinho.
The same is likely to happen on the right with Theo as both Kos and JD are reluctant to bomb forward and unfortunately Theo needs both space and pace to beat his defender and he’ll be up against Clichy who isn’t slow as we know.
As for Santos’ ability in defense, I’m getting tired of repeating this but he has the most interceptions and tackles in the team. Granted – he’s been more targeted but has more than a 65% success tackle rate which is the most as well.
We should be fine against Everton but he is a huge loss for City, let’s hope he’s a quick healer.
Joe @ 367
a well argued case.
I think we have defensive faults, whoever plays from the current squad – and that goes for all of the back four (with maybe the exception of Sagna, were he fit.). From that perspective, I would prefer to defend by attacking and possibly trying to outscore the opposition.
I think Wenger would have played Santos had he been fit and therefore Wenger too would have been at odds with your side of the argument.
For what its worth, I am not convinced that Gibbs, if fit, would have been any better defensively than the guys you’ve mentioned. I don’t disagree that Santos has work to do on the defensive side of the game, he had a horrific first half against Chelsea, but arguably his contribution at the start of the second half, was the springboard for what happened thereafter.
Anyway, as Holic has said on many occasions, we are a broad church. We are not all meant to agree. I respect your argument and am happy to buy you a drink at the expense of my second favourite Swede.
Slainthe !
To anybody who might know.
From what I gather “So Paddy Got Up” is an Arsenal Anthology and from what I understood that new website Arsenal Collective is one as well…
Any difference between them, in format (not difference in the actual stories which I’m sure are different)?
That’s the majestic HT @ 143 – that is
and ’tis a broad church here but am surprised Pele’s old side Santos is still under appreciated (imo) in some quarters. Admittedly i’m often half expecting him to make the odd massive balls up – because he does take risks – but that hasn’t happened. He defends pretty well now (that jump-in-tackle and nick possession technique he employs often gets us going forward), he keeps the ball well, passes well, crosses well, scores goals, overlaps, dummies wingers, does flicks and tricks (usually to get out of tight spots), brings personality to the team and his team-mates seem to trust him.
And all this on a forty fag a day and heavy-duty meat pie habit. All in all he comes pretty close to being my ultimate fantasy footballer – you know the one you’d choose to be if you could.
Again i’ll be v sad not to see the slightly bonkas Brazilian on Saturday. I hope you’re right SG and we don’t miss him much then (i think in attack we might do) – and if WE don’t – it seems i will.
Apologies – may be overdoing it now – apparently last night’s intake is still swooshing round these oldish bones
UreDS and Yellows!
Snir, I believe Le Coq played a few games with Lorient at right back too.
No idea how he fared though so carry on.
Zico,
Agreed – I’ve too have no doubt that Wenger would play Santos if fit. Why change a team thats been winning? And your points about Gibbs and having defensive faults irrespective of who plays – are very well made too.
Thanks for the drink, next time your in Cork – let me know!
Joe, merde, I was there 4 weeks ago!!
http://www.football365.com/faves/7360234/F365-Says
Still laughing.
I do love the fact that here and there I keep reading about De Gea being slightly excused on account of being young.
Well fuck this, Woj is young too and he is awesome ((c) Snir Geuli 2011)
Actually it was 6 weeks ago, forgot about my trip to the retreat to the Home Counties ๐
You’re around on saturday, Dr Z?
I fear that with arseblogger’s new found popularity and his post from today the place will be packed to the rafters again with fanboy types. ๐
Snir @368…. quite correct. And the reason is….?
I was thinking the very same Ollie.
You going?
Catalan @ 380:
Because the paternal family name is “Miquel” as opposed to the “Miguel” being the spanish name for Michael?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16082325.stm
This warms the cockles. More than for anyone else, I am absolutely thrilled and ecstatic that that cunt Evra will be in the Europa League.
Yes I am, Dr Z. Barring sudden snowfall or the yearly Eurostar cock-up happening just then.
I have enough margin to make it to the game with just about up to 3 hours’ delay.
Heh Joe! ๐
If he was Spanish he’d most likey be Ignacio Miguel, but as a good Barca boy he is Ignasi Miquel.
Jeez….I’m beginning to sound like them now! I’ll get my coat..
Excellent. 2 bad influences on Saturday. ๐
SR-
I just saw your rant about the spelling of the name MiQuel!
On my part I apologise to you!
heh Zico.
That’s all right, Dr C.
If it comes to Castillans vs Catalans, I am Catalan too ๐
Just lurking. Glad to see Fergie’s red-nose-face from that pic Snir. And I was Napoli fan last evening
We were ALL Napoli fans last night Oliva ๐
When Lurky Oliva appears, you know its about to kick-off ๐
‘Begins to stretch’
http://images.football365.com/11/12/496×259/Rooney-Ferdinand-Evra_2688165.jpg
That look of despair on the left. Priceless.
That’s just made my day.
Evra that fecking cunt!
Ashamed to be in the Europa League?
Too right!
SR…I was walking to work while I was typing that and couldn’t be fucked to look up the spelling. I guessed it and almost called him Migel! ๐
Michael?
*starts juggling the ball nonchalantly out of defence*
*receives the ball from Ollie at the halfway circle, goes past two midfielders…..*
dummys – late
far post run
Goes for the shot…
thank gawd for that – was shaping up for an OG – well in Wind
Get in!
The kid is back… ๐
Self assist is an OG?
I humbly put that one out there with the suggestion that it be added to the list of unwritten rules re postings
Thanks AL, happy to help ๐
Paddington, more hungover than Pavarotti’s belt.
Afternoon All ,
Top top night last night .
Holic , pleasure to see you again , and look forward to drinking with you again on Saturday “with the handbrake off” . ๐ Thank you for the lovely inscription .
A big Thank you too , to Mrs H for keeping my book dry ! Placed a little sneaky tenner at odds of 10-1 that I would get the Book home safe and sound , and managed it !!!
Geoff , pleasure to meet you , and good luck with your own book .
Snowy , great to meet you . A fellow tabber in The Holic ranks , hurrah ! It occurred to me this morning that nearly all our discussions centred not on our left back conundrum or back-up for VP , but whether Feelgood would recover , whether Shaft would bump off Platini (answer above ๐ ) , and whether Smallballs would recover his Speedos . It’s best to keep all the really important issues of the day at the forefront !!! Shame about your Rugby League career , but at least it gives you more time to concentrate on following The Arsenal !
AL – sorry I missed you , but hopefully we will make up for it on Saturday .
TS – always a pleasure mate , but driving (!!!!) , schoolboy error methinks . Leave the car behind on Saturday , and I’ll buy you a proper drink ๐
Top blokes one and all .
Not really an autograph hunter but having secured The Guv’nors , thought I better go in search of a few others . Amy Lawrence presented herself at The Holic table . Amy , thank you for the chat and your written message , to which the answer is of course , yes ! ๐
Blogs was his usual friendliness and charm personified , and thanks Little Dutch for taking the time out for a chat .
John Cross was terrific . Asked him for a tabloid scoop , and he reiterated that we’re going in hard for Goetse in Jan . I was very impressed with John , really nice guy and proper proper Gooner . Also extracted a promise from him never to give an outlet again to Le Groan . Lovely ๐
All this , and the charming Cfpb ( who is neither a c*nt nor from Potters Bar ! ) ๐
Just one of those nights , when the Good news just kept on coming ! To be in a pub packed full of Gooners on a night when the first Basle goal went in , and then the two Napoli goals , and then the second Basle goal , and then finally the picture of Fergie’s exploding face was truly magical . The footballing Gods did indeed come out to play .
Have a good day all .
Glad to be of assistance ๐
Afternon all,
‘holic, Tabs, TS, The management, Snowy, a pleasure to meet you all last night, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and of course your company. More to follow I’m sure.
Thanks for the good wishes re: my book tabs, hope I can rely on at least one person being at the launch now and you’re spot on, a truly magical evening.
I would have loved to really relaxed and enjoyed a drink or two more but my mode of transport dictated otherwise. I have no idea how I missed Amy, John et al, it would have been great to meet them, oh well something else to look forward to.
All in all a great night and I look forward to catching up with you all again at the earliest opportunity.
Oh and Hayley if you’re looking in thank you for your delicious Brownie, have to diagree with the chef, I thought they were out of this world!
Great goal, Wind.
Just doing some back-drinking now …
Lars @128 – That’s a lot of beer ๐ , methinks you’ll be table dancing again !
Dr Z @143 , Excellent ๐ ๐ What with Feelgood holding out the Olive Branch an’ all , expect replies from both Wolfgang ( are all his Speedos back where they should be and in pristine condition ? ) , and Carlos , just as soon as he’s carried out his mission over at the Spud training ground .
LegRash @ 155 – awesome ๐ Are you still banned over at Le Groan ? I do think your “facts” deserve a wider audience ๐
Matt @274 – Great post .
8Ball @301 – heh ๐
AL @312 – Great story .
Matt @316 LOL – brilliant . Sums up the Purple-nosed one completely .
GoonerTerry @341 and Shaft @344 and Manchester Reporter @363 – ๐ ๐
And Well in Wind @400 – That’s my boy ! ๐
By the way , one of our most erudite and witty drinkers hasn’t been in the Bar much of late . Trev , hope everything is ok mate , and hope you’re still on for Saturday ?
Right , that was a lot of drinking , off for a lie-down !
You lot should be ashamed of yourselves.
Sitting around shooting the breeze as if you’ve forgotten about the hilarious exit of those cunts from oop noorf from the Champs League. Not one mention of it in the comments since this morning!
Get yourselves on a Manc blog, don’t gloat cos it’s not classy, just sit back and relish the despair of the glory-hunters. Doomers are all the same:
“fuckin disgrace, Fergie should go he doesn’t have any idea any more, bring in Steve Bruce, that’s what I say…”
Sorry, did I hear that right?
Steve Bruce?
Steve fucking Bruce??! Steve “couldn’t manage himself out of the relegation zone” Bruce?
Wahahahahahahahahaha fucking pathetic straw-clutching twats!
The Scene : ย Executive Suite, Executive Carriage, HT MkII
Dr Feelgood is sitting alone with his thoughts. ย Most would agree that this is a barren, desolate environment. ย He is non-plussed at the lack of activity. ย Edwin and Wolfgang are nowhere to be seen. ย It is deathly quiet. ย
Feelgood picks up his iPhone, now battered beyond repair, and sends a text to The Professor.
“Where the feck r yew?”
Edwin replies : “Getting book signed.”
Feelgood flashes an enormous grin. ย That’s my boy, Edwin, he thinks. ย He pours himself a celebratory rum and coke. ย Squints at it, and then pours in another shot for luck.
His iPhone rings. ย It’s Roxette.
Feelgood : “Yes babe?”
Roxette : “I thought you said you’d be home. ย It’s gone 7pm. ย I hope you’re not playing trains again, and I certainly hope you’re not drinking?”
Feelgood irrationally covers up the glass with both hands.
Feelgood : “Just coke, dear.”
Roxette : ย “Not nose coke?”
Feelgood : ย “No, coca-cola, the Real Thing, the big red and white symbol of the American Empire. Lovely stuff.”
Roxette (suspicious voice) : “Well ok then, just remember your promise, you don’t want to get ill again.”
Feelgood : “Oh those days are gone. ย I’m changing careers. ย I’m writing, in fact have written, a book. ย Edwin is getting the publishing deal signed as we speak…..”
Roxette : “What’s it called?”
Feelgood : “Inspired by my recent trip to Cork, it’s very original I think. ย It’s called “So Paddy Threw Up.”
Roxette : “Wasn’t it you that threw up?”
Feelgood (unconvincing) ย : “Well, yes, ย but I’m allergic to seafood as you well know….”
Roxette : “Well don’t be much later, remember my mother is coming over tomorrow.”
The sound of Feelgood retching is heard throughout the Happy Train……..
Dr F heh ๐ , and Geoff , yes of course I’ll be at the launch .
Geoff, you supply the guinness and I’ll come too….. 8)
“I hope youโre not playing trains again.”
Heh
Oh and Trev, what tabs said @ 410. Hope to see you Saturday.
Frantic back tracking allows me to see that Dr Z @143 reports Dr F is behaving a little more reasonably.
On behalf of myself and Mr T, who’s researching some promising new flower seeds in The Amazon, we look forward to hearing from you.
Careful what you say, Wolfie….
Memo to Mr C , Mr T ,
Re Dr Feelgood .
The old boy appears to be showing signs of humanity . Is this a true awakening as a result of the unbreakable solidarity of The Quackery , or just another ruse to achieve by foul means what he couldn’t do by fair ?
Will he honour the 10% pay rises awarded to all security and quackery staff by me whilst he was .. ahem .. away ? .. and where are my missing Speedos , which he had the audacity to use for padding . I wanted to wear my ’79 “Alan Sunderland – don’t bash the ‘tache ” commemorative pair this morning , and they are still missing . They are extremely rare , such that on a match day I have yet to see anyone else wearing same .
I’m all for everyone jumping straight back on the HT under his leadership , but we must proceed with caution .
Yours Speedo-searchingly ,
Wolfgang Smallballs .
Thanks Ollie and Thanks tabs, the tears are flowing in joy from your acknowledgement ๐
Dr Z, very nice Feelgood Files at 412, back to normality then, if you can call it that ๐
TaBS, you celebrity whore! ๐
humanity
Oh how we laughed…
Shaft thanks everyone for their kind words! Today’s episode was a bit dark but necessarily so. It’s time to clean up football…one body double at a time. Let’s hope he brings the boobs and the puns back.
I suspect all the time I spend in work writing/posting is either going to get me fired or the internet blocked soon though! I overheard my boss talking about changing the internet settings or something today. Maybe I should introduce the IT crew to the Equalizer? ๐
Mr C – you got it ! Today The Tollie , tomorrow the Red Carpet ๐
Wind , my pleasure ๐
Tabs @ 410 that’s very kind of you to suggest that my particular pearls of W. should pour forth from other outlets. Believe me when I say I’ve be straining every sinew I have to try to make that happen.
For example at the weekend I too felt Le thingy would be the natural home for my “Why didn’t we score 5 against Wigan” – well reasoned arguement.
So I switched names and computers to help get me over the technical humps i’d encountered earlier re getting on that site.
Hey presto it bloody worked! So I posted my bit. I then got a very excitable reaction from the main man’s – Pedo is it? I can never remember – main men. They said all sorts of life-affirming things that made me grin from ‘ere to ‘ere (am holding hands 3 foot apart at the mo). Then old Pedo joins in – and says that he doesn’t mind what I write and that they should all calm down and see it for what it is. Is he not one reasonable fellow – or what?
So naturally I think yee haa I’m back on the firm.
2 days later I whizz over the bit you’ve been so kind about above – under me new name on me new computer – and wallop! I literally crash into yet another cyber brick wall. Would you believe it – some silly sod has gone and mistakenly blocked me again – and as I say Pedo don’t mind my stuff going up there because he’s said so on his own site, in blue and white.
So please ‘holic, next time you and him are together on the ‘Top Class Arse Bloggers Only’ pub quiz team, do us a favour and let him know his software is a load of corrupted old bollox that needs some serious, serious sorting out. And tell him I know any number of blokes who would be only too happy to get their hands on it and give it a good going over – for all of our sakes. I’m sure he’ll thank you for it. I know I will.
And Tabs now i know for sure what ‘holic looks i’ll pluck up the old dutch and come and say hello to the frequenters of this fine establishment this Saturday
UREDS!
Besides i’ve already promised Dr. Z a pint – which is only right and proper as he will have rode The Happy Train all that way
LeG Rash – A tragedy that Pedo is not allowing his reader the benefit of your wise words . Perhaps he is a little intimidated by your greater ability – vocab , grammar and style – to really coat The Arsenal . And that’s a FACT , in my opinion .
AL – will look forward to that drink . My oh My , saturday is gonna be big ๐
Pardon – ‘roded’
Afternoon one and all,
A brief visit, mainly to say thanks to the top people that I met last night.
‘Holic – Great to meet you and the lovely Management. Thanks also for the kindly worded inscription in my book. A safe journey back to The Shires and see you Saturday.
tabs @ #406 – the pleasure was all mine, see you Saturday sans auto!
Geoff @ #408 – great to meet you too and put yet another face to a name in this bar. Hope to see you again soon. I think we’re quite easy to find ๐
Finally a HUGE thankyou to The Footballing Gods. London 2-0 Manchester. “You’re playing Stoke in the next round, Stoke in the next round….”
Laters all and round on me on my tab for a change ๐
The internet is alive with people complaining about the open corruption on display last night…Ajax being effed by officials, Zagreb team throwing the game to Lyon under pressure from Croatian mafia…
AL,
Hurricane (Blowhard) Pedro here at the moment.
Hopefully there is still some rail infrastructure that is not blocked come Saturday morning.
Last year I got delayed with a deluge of snow akin to a Feelgood sneeze. Now this bleeding gale.
I am a cert for the remake of the Day After Tomorrow.
to that particular hurricane blowing itself out sooner rather than later – for all our sakes –
Surely Wind knows who speak to – unless of course he’s Wind after all
Afternoon all,
Tabs, zico –
thanks for the thoughts chaps. I’m fine, but have been a bit waylaid, firstly by a peach of a headcold of my own, and last night, by a visit to a real doctor with my daughter, who had some nasty throat and breathing difficulties.
Was hoping to make it to the Tollie last night but needs obviously had to come first.
Have only managed to catch up on the last 50 or so ‘drinks’ since Saturday, but glad to see last night went well ‘Holic.
A note of caution to any web users who may be as naive as I clearly am –
the other reason I have been unable to contribute anything since Saturday was that I came under “cyber attack” whilst trying, in vain, to clear the dancing adverts from the streams I was using to watch the Wigan match.
Two viruses and now, apparantly, a Trojan (?!) have put the laptop beyond use for the foreseeable. These were imported by trying to close down the dancing ads – so beware.
For reference only, they were Snir’s first listed sight, and Joshua’s – so take care lads ๐
Using a desktop for ther time being and hoping several thousand photos have not been destroyed when my computer magician eventually turns the laptop back on ๐
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, Cheers.
Trev,
Sorry to hear about your illnesses in the order of daughter, you and computer.
I especially hope your daughter is ok – as for your ailments, well they don’t call me Dr Feelgood for nothing ๐
Afternoon all.
Glad to hear you all enjoyed your night out in N7, the owner of the Tollie must be the happiest man with the move from Highbury to the Grove. Good for him.
====
Reports here in the Lowlands are that UEFA are investigating the chances of “foul play”in the Zagreb-Lyon game last night, which due to it’s ridiculous scoreline (and two perfectly good goals being disallowed in the ArenA) meant Ajax crashed out.
Apparently there was a French observer from the, what they call in Dutch, “Gokwezen” (which as far as I can work out is a watchdog for illeagel gambling) in the crowd. He reportedly didn’t trust what he saw and has submitted a full report to the powers that be.
This one’s not over yet.
Cheers zico – back to work now ’til 7. It’s all fun here mate.
Intensive training tonight and tomorrow as I may ,ake an attempt at the full pint on Saturday ๐
‘Holic, as I am unable to email you, I have to ask here, but I would love a copy of the book on Saturday if it’s not too impracticle.
*make* – stupid keyboard
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/sixpence-to-decide-kick-off-on-saturday
heh. I hope they also parade Keith Dover, supporting Arsenal since 1887.
Rednose’s picture on the bbc sports page right now is really worth a look (I like the image name too): http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/57210000/jpg/_57210235_alex.jpg
Supposedly it’ll cost them 20M, but they can always borrow some more I suppose.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-prepares-for-125-year-celebrations
2.15pm – The Royal Artillery Band and Orchestra will play inside the Emirates Stadium bowl.
oh dear
oh dear I fucking forgot to close the italics tag.
I think we’re in for something like this morning.
The Scene – Carlos is hiding in the undergrowth of The Cheshunt Training Centre , home to the mighty Totts . His binoculars are trained on the man taking training , cheekie chappie ‘Arry Bedcrap . There is no netting on the goals and the training pitch is covered in Dog Turds . Carlos lights another cigarette and remains vigilant . The silence is broken only by the screams from some local children playing on the swings in the centre circle of the pitch . ‘Arry suddenly swings into action .
‘Arry : Come on ma sarn , get your arse in gear sarn , lovely-jubblie stick it in the onion bag , Baley put those facking bananas darn and play some football , go on sarn , ‘ave it large , cor blimey guvnor , lovin’ it , you lot are proper geezers , lovin you all , Ade , lookin’ good ma sarn , fackin’ get stuck in , it’s only a bit of dog-turd , get in there don’t you worry about that , sorted , let’s see a few smiles out there , lovin’it ,did you hear the one about the fat bird and the lampshade ? Nah ? I’ll tell you later , love a joke an’a laugh me , if we can’t have a laugh what can we do eh ? Come on boys , big game this week , playin’Europe’s elite , Shamrock fackin’ Rovers , another European Glory night . Right great session boys , fackin’ lovin ‘it , time to wrap it up , coach is is here to take us back to Shite Hart Lane .
Adebayor : Idon’twanttogetonthecoachBossbadthingshappen
‘Arry : You get yer arse on that coach Ade , this is facking Tottenham not facking Africa . Not like we get facking riots and out of control mobs in fackingTottenham is it ! You can ave the carrot or the stick , man management is my bag , either way you’re gettin’ on that coach . I’m the boss .
Adebayor : Yesgafferanythingforyouandonehundredandeightythousandsmackersaweek .
‘Arry : That’s what I wanna see – fightin’fackin’spirit . Just gotta make a quick call on the old dog an’ Bone . I’ll see you all on the coach . Remember to ave yer jokes ready for the journey ‘ome . Loverly jubblie .
*’Arry starts walking towards the old beaten down Public toilets which double as his offices . Carlos stubs his cigarette out on the damp grass with the ruthlessness of a cold killer and starts sprinting towards the toilets . He makes it there first , undetected . He scans the toilet and absorbs all the detail . There is a solitary wall-phone just above the urinals , several large brown paper bags and a photograph entitled “My Greatest Moment in a Glorious Career” . The photograph shows a clearly pissed ‘Arry on The Big Wheel in Blackpool with Jimmy Greaves . Carlos hides himself in Trap 3 . There is already a man there dressed in a suit , a bow-tie , and horn-rimmed glasses hiding . Carlos is startled .
Carlos : Who the f*ck are you ?
Unknown Man : I might ask you the same question .
Carlos : Carlos Kickemard , Head of Security on The Happy Train , Peruvian Marksman , Special Agent for Undercover Gooner Operations , Pimp for Shaft , and occasional wearer of Speedos in my down-time . Now , what about you ?
Unknown Man : Will Getyouintheend . Inland Revenue . We’ve had Bedcrap under surveillance for some time . We’re worried he might skip the country what with the court case pending .
Carlos : Looks like we’re on the same team . Maybe we can work together and be of mutual benefit . Ssssh , he’s coming .
Arry Bedcrap walks in , takes the phone above the urinals , wipes off the wee and makes a phone call .
Arry : Yeh , yeh , all going to plan . Bankrupt ’em before Easter . Never let you down before ‘ave I ? Every fackin’ club I’ve ‘ad , left ’em in the fackin’ financial lurch . They’re still talkin’ about buildin’ a new stadium . How they gonna afford that , when all they’ve got to sell off is a bit of prime T*ttenham Real Estate ? Bring ’em to their knees . Yeh , yeh , buyers lined up for Modric and Bale . Sell ’em at a discount when the Club really needs the dough but yeh they’ll be a few mill in it for us Loverly facking jubberlee ! Yeh , yeh catch you later .
‘Arry puts down the phone and walks out .
Carlos : I think there was enough there for both of us .
Will : Got the whole thing taped . Right , I’m off to West Ham , we’re closing in on Alladyce , crafty bugger , but we’re going to do him on the large shipments of Diet Pills he’s importing .
Carlos : Nice work Will . Might come with you . Take Karen Brady on a bit of a feed up , and then present her to Shaft .
Carlos and Will walk out of the now deserted Park . The eerie silence is broken only by the distant rumbling of Canons being fired in the distance .
Will : A sign of things to come Carlos ?
Carlos : You betcha , Will . The Guns they are a-coming , and there ain’t anything anyone can do to stop ’em .
Just his normal pose, no, Matt? ๐
Haha
Best wishes, Trev.
Trev , great to have you back , and all that Dr Z said at 434 .
H2H – @435 interesting , very interesting .
I’m surprised the talk of match fix only centres around the Lyon game and not the Ajax game, if there were to be any real inquest, surely it should take both games into account as Ajax only needed a draw and got two goals disallowed.
Anyway, won’t happen.
Just hope Lyon don’t get Apoel or I’ll be furious.
Heh tabs, ๐ ๐
thatadebayorspeechidiom has been on my zPad for a week or so, been trying to work out how to weave him into my narrative.
Very very good stuff. Only thing is, you should try fiction. ๐
Heh Dr Z ๐
Your ETA on Saturday about 1 30 ? Don’t forget it will be an early departure pre-game for the parade of ex players etc .
Although having checked back the drinks now I can add.
-what Dr Z said to Trev at 434 indeed
-I see H2H mentions the Ajax game. Guess it’s just the stoopid French media who focus only on the Lyon game and pretend they didn’t see the foul play at Ajax….
I would find it extraordinarily hilarious if there was foul play, it was proven, and it was not at all of Lyon’s doing.
I would then love a poster made of Evra’s face, Aulas’ face and Funguscunt’s.
Will the barman be the first in the pub though, tabs?
I guess after his exertions of last night, of tomorrow night (statue unveiling THEN Xmas do back in Swindon…), he might feel a bit rough.
tabs @ 448
If the Victor Meldrew express is on time, then yes, subject to tub, engineering works, the Gods of Olympia etc I should make the brolly in the Tollie by 1:30.
Just have a guinness ready ๐
My money is still on ‘Holic being first Ollie ๐
tub = tube
(I think)
Will do Dr Z ๐
heh Dr Z 453, was wondering
442 tabs ๐
446 Ollie.
I think the major issue, from a neutral standpoint, is that a team (Lyon) who only managed a total of 2 goals in the 5 previous CL games, grabbed 7 in the last, trez suspusious, non?
There’s also reports of a wink incident (I haven’t seen it myself) between a Zagreb defender and a Lyon player.
The more I see the Ajax’s disallowed goals, the more farcical it looks, if that game wasn’t fixed, and I seriously doubt it was, then the linesman is beyond incompitant and should never be allowed to run the lines again.
I don’t believe there’s anything fishy going on in this Ajax/Lyon business, just weird stuff sometimes happens in football (as do awful decisions), and Dinamo Zagreb are dreadful. I mean a team shipping six or seven goals at home after a flurry of a late goals happened in the Premiership this year, and nobody suggests that was dodgy!
Manchester football fans face are now able to offset the brunt of the economic crisis.
All have cancelled their Sky HD subscriptions with immediate effect. Channel 5 I’m told, is free.
Loves, the lot of them.
Ollie, if anyone would know it’d be you. Know the answer for my @340?
Trev, I am incredibly sorry, I owe you one… Wow, I am so so so sorry. Would never have posted it had I known, I use them all the time for every sport.
Sorry.
The plot thickens as the Belgians get involved.
From MSN;
Overigens is niet alleen in Frankrijk, maar ook in Belgiรซ een onderzoek gestart naar de wedstrijd. “We zetten vraagtekens bij bepaalde handelingen. Maar in deze fase hebben wij nog geen aanwijzingen dat er iets abnormaals is gebeurd”, aldus voorzitter Etienne Marique van de Belgische toezichthouder van kansspelen
Basic H2H translation.
Not only in France, but now in Belgium an investigation has been started due to this game. “We are raising questionmarks about certain actions that occured in the game, however at this moment we have no proof of any out of the ordainary situations” said chairperson Etienne Marique of the Belgian Gambling Watchdog.
Trev, sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope she is much better now. As for the book, Blogs is over again on Saturday and there will be more books available at the Tollie.
I think ‘holic would know better, Snir ๐
My own opinion would be that if it’s on TV, it’s only ATVO aka Arsenal player.
Sky Sports News may have snippets, maybe a ‘live’ reporter somewhere talking bollocks for 30s with a statue in the background.
H2H, if the Belgians start getting involved, it could get messy.
@Ollie: he’s got more of a smug look usually I’d say…
Well, they’ve got nothing else much going on, have they Ollie. ๐
And sorry to hear about your daughter. Hope shell be ok in no time!
Hello Snir, I would be staggered if it is not being filmed for Arsenal player.
Talking of which didn’t see anybody last night, so will hopefully have another chance tomorrow.
Hellollie…
Well I’ll just leave work ‘early’ today.
Laters chums.
Thanks Holic!
Trezeguet available on a free.
Can finish even at 34. Sounds like Henrik Larsson to me. And I know Titi is around that age but Titi can only come for a month because of the MLS.
Thoughts?
A pleasure to meet you last night. I didn’t get a chance to buy you a drink because of the crush and my need to eat before catching the 21.45 at Paddington. I am grateful for your recommendation of El Molino and so delighted with my first experience of the Tollie followed by the tapas that I am proposing to reverse the order on Saturday. I will hopefully get the chance to buy you a wee drap o the cratur then. Cheers barman.
Snir,
I have to confess I have never rated Trezeguet but he is better back up than we currently possess.
Holic, can you help me with @372?
http://mobile.lesoir.be/actualite/a_la_une/page_11198_882460.shtml
This picture shows the croatian defender winking and making a thumbs up sign after the third OL goal.
On the highlights last night it showed Leko(who played for Monaco not long ago)making some strange hand gestures as he walked after being sent off midway through the first half.I’ve tried to find it on youtube unsuccessfully.He seems to be gesticulating counting money.
Sorry to anybody who followed my link fot the Arseblog book I got an email today from PAYPAL reimbursing the book price and a word from someone called Andrew at Yag media telling me/us (I was order no 977) that the book would not be on sale until monday and it was just a test page.
@Snir: both are way past it. And for pressing they would make Arshavin look like a pitbull.
I doubt Podolski or any good striker will want to join to watch RvP from the bench. We’re more likely to see either one of Freeman, Afobe or Sanchez Watt feature once they come back from their loan spells.
Matt I disagree re Titi and AA. Titi can still press if he’s in the lone striker role replacing RvP.
That’s the beauty with AW. He can convince Podolski to come. Like I said he can also play on the wings so he’ll get some games there and give the winners some competition. He can also play the 4-4-2 AW experimented with against City this year and last season at Fulham.
@473 that result stinks of corruption.
Ok.
Anyone who likes surprises, don’t press on these links.
This is being put right after the entrance of turnstiles D & E at the Ems.
http://a.yfrog.com/img863/3288/elevm.jpg
The statue for that image is this:
http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/full/467544037.jpg?Expires=1323371436&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=jALNtiKnR5FQpemBr5wT99Ie0NnmJfaknmDh~bMjura-nsdVOxiGoCdJhaW3Kml~vTGocHQ5V1yaM5mBpaM9k0WEHP5RgcUf1D~vOEqBMjsLZIxNhPkShhByIrJhVk12HZsSFa5vRYsMZp6c1POC6ds8HUuLr0kRiOSv3J0g1gs_
476bathgooner You think Arseblog is bent.They have been known to mention homo’s once or twice in the comments.
Zico@414
Seems Guiness is the posion of choice in this establishment! A pint of the best for you sir.
poison or potion ๐
Blimey Tabs, some serious posting this afternoon, did you take the day off? ๐
Trev@433: hope your daughter is as right as rain again soon.
Gambling rings are all over the European game, and at least one has been revealed based in the former Yugoslavia, so there may well have been skulduggery on Matchday Six. The two disallowed Ajax goals were appalling bits of officiating, at the very least. And what defence gives up seven goals in a game these days? Oh…
Trev, hope your daughter gets well soon.
@478 wuif
I think that match outcome was bent not Arselog. As soon aas I sawthe score it looked suspicious. The more I hear (I did not see even highlights) the more it sounds as if there has been some skullduggery.
Arseblog warned everyone not to order from Amazon and others who were offering pre-orders as he said that they would not get the book. He has said that orders on line would not commence before Monday.
Snir, I don’t get the question.
So Paddy Got Up is the book that was launched last night.
The Arsenal Collective is a website.
Fundamentally different platforms, although the nature of the content, being peoples memories of Arsenal, will overlap.
Good spot tabs – Ady and ‘Arry – a canny pairing. One likes you to play him up front and one, apparently, likes you to pay him up front.
Looking forward to more incomprehensible conversations between the two
Hello bath,
It was my pleasure to meet you last night. Glad you enjoyed the tapas. Actually it is West Stand Tone we have to thank for pointing us in that particular direction.
I suppose I may have one drink on Saturday ๐
Holic, in what you wrote, you answered my question.
Thanks ๐
Basically I was saying that both are people’s memories, but the book is printed as opposed to the website…
But the idea is people’s memories… Just the Arsenal Collective is open for contributions from everybody as opposed to the select few who were lucky to contribute to So Paddy Got Up ๐
@bathgooner I thought deliberate misunderstanding might be amusing as regards Arseblog and matchfixing.Hadn’t seen /noticed online orders wouldn’t be processed before Monday,but remember the mention not to buy with Amazon.
In honour of our slightly bonkas Brazilian: He puts a bit o’ back spin on it – so as to pass to himself then flicks it from behind his standing leg, inside – to one of his own, puts his head down and goes bombing up the left wing
Ball lands back at his feet, team-mates are away down the pitch so decides to play a bit o’ keepy uppy by the corner flag and wait for support
Trots back onto the Pitch , just in time to see AL bombing up the left wing , pings it first time into space behind Terry who promptly falls over …
Geoff @481 – I worked very hard today , I’ll have you know , that Carlos post took ages ๐
Such was the finesse of that pass tabs, it reached me before it left your foot. Rolls ball back past the sprawling England Captain’s snarling boat into space
Space is best place for sprawling England captain…
Tempo dropping to a crawl…
AL @ 432, heh heh!
Nothing doing mate ๐ although I hear a bit of snowy is on the horizon…
tabs @ 442, very nice my mastero, very nice indeed ๐
Indeed, good to have you back Trev, sorry to hear of our recent troubles mate, hope your daughter and your computer get better soon ๐
Wind ghosts into the box…
down ward header
Sticks out a foot..
lurks
Tries to knock the ball into the box…
Well in Ned.
I lurked too late. ๐
Corruption in UEFA? Who could have imagined that? Perhaps Platini managed to escape from Shaft after all.
Trev, I hope your daughter feels better soon.
Who-hoa! First in a while. Pin-point lay-off AL. Thanks for the assist.
Accursed Blackberry!
Well in NBN ๐
NBN nicks it – weel played.
The down ward header??? Get that ball out of this secure unit – now!
Poacher’s goal, well done, North Bank Ned. The new Fox In The Box (now cursed ๐ )
Got distracted by strange exhortations of Speedo-clad supporter in the crowd , going crazy at AL’s tricks and flicks .
Very Good finish Ned , well played .
Arse! Self-assist was there for the taking and I threw it away.
Ahem – still not fully succeeding in curbing my baser instincts despite Wind’s therapy. Generally on track though…
We’ll get it right Camberwell, in time ๐
Speaking of ‘time’,
Cooking tips for Man Utd Fans.
When making a stew, thyme and pepper are great but you really just can’t beat basel.
This is just nuts. URL says it all but the video is hilarious. Some tips for our various agents on assignment, perhaps….
http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/norwegians_combine_electric_shocks_and_soccer/8565211
Game itself starts about a minute into the video.
NBN,
thank you, thank you, thank you.
This has SO much potential for treating the poor souls we see down the Quackery.
What is even more interesting is that the shocks improved Claus Lundvekam as a player.
Ned.
Ha ha, great vid. I think we need to get some Norweigens into the FIFA executive commitie.
Nice !
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/390025_10150413380572549_686442548_8696595_695057015_n.jpg
Heh, tabs.
Hey H2H , cheers for the kind words earlier . A voddie shot Sir ?
Heh tabs,
Never had AW down as a hitcher ๐
Can’t see why not tabs, cheers mate.
Just heard on the news that UEFA see nothing wrong with either result in Group D last night, so I suppose that is that.
Shame, I would of loved to be drawn against Ajax in the next round, for obvious reasons, i.e they’re shit. ๐
Right my round, I propose some nice cold beer.
Ned @512 – Thank you , thank you , that’s just about one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen . Brilliant . In tears here . Imagine being down at SHL with one of those zappers . Level 8 Scotty …
With one of those zappers the likes of John Terry and Na$ri would be reduced to ashes.
Heh Dr Z ๐
Cheers for the Beer H2H . Uefa’s inaction as to be expected . Not normally one for conspiracy theories , but it does all seem very strange .
No-one will ever convince me the RVP sending-off against Barca was a “clean” decision .
Sunday Jan 22,2012.
Utd visit the Emirates .
They are in for one hell of a reception,
Even more so if their noisy neighbours have knocked them out of the FA Cup as well.
Will old Red Nose splash the cash in the transfer window.??
Snir,where are you.??
You seem to be convinced on what the Arse need,perhaps you can tell us what Fergie needs,if you can be ARSED that is.!!
cheers
The Sweeper.
Sweeper ,
What does Fergie need in January ?
1. Some basic courtesy .
2. Skin-blanching .
3. Some lessons from Arsene as to humility .
4. A retirement package .
5. To cancel all his plans for Thursday evenings.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
6. New Aftershave , Channel No. 5 is good apparently .
NBN
Thank you, thank you. *crying with laughter*.
The best football video I have ever seen.